"Penmanship" is now 'handwriting' as Washington state removes gender bias in statutes

Reuters ^ | 4/23/2013 | Laura L. Myers

[markomalley]

Washington state's governor signed into law on Monday the final piece of a six-year effort to rewrite state laws using gender-neutral vocabulary, replacing terms such as "fisherman" and "freshman" with "fisher" and "first-year student."

Lawmakers have passed a series of bills since 2007 to root out gender bias from Washington statutes, though a 1983 state mandate required that all laws be written in gender-neutral terms unless a specification of gender was intended.

"This was a much larger effort than I had envisioned. Mankind means man and woman," said Democratic state Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles of Seattle.

The new gender-neutral references, for example, include "journey-level plumber" instead of "journeyman plumber," "handwriting" in place of "penmanship," and "signal operator" for "signalman."

[BykrBayb]

We should have seen this coming when they redefined “niggardly.”

[angcat]

Well it was September and they said by January they would decide. I would have taught her myself the decision was due to I'm sure outrage by parents.

[Revolting cat!]

In other news, the last remaining multinational record company Universal Warner has announced that singer-songwriter Aimee Mann had decided to change her last name to Personn.

[BykrBayb]

I suppose you could still childcott them, but I don’t think it would be as good as an old fashioned boycott.

[a fool in paradise]

“I am PERSON hear me roar...”

[angcat]

I'm praying they stay sane for another 5 years. Then I will go bankrupt sending her to the same Private high school her sister is graduating from next month. I'm sure the price will double in the next six years. My husband and I will die poor living in a hut.

[Puppage]

Liberals make me sick.

[Revolting cat!]

Oh, stop complaining! Take it like a... uh, person!

[faithhopecharity]

Are we still allowed to say “bullshit!” To this? Or is that gender_non_neutered, too?

[TexasTransplant]

I refuse to get “penalized” if I still say “penmanship”

(sounds like)

TT

[boop]

You better shape up or the boogeyperson will get you!

And go to sleep to the sandperson can pay you a visit.

And the sandperson scares easily, but will be back. And in greater numbers.

[Revolting cat!]

Just watch your personners, folks, uh, I mean persons.

[upchuck]

So glad I live in South Carolina.

I doubt anyone of authority would even think about something like this, let alone try and make it law.

[beelzepug]

They better rename Whitman County. Everyone knows that’s just racial code for “Whiteman”.

[boop]

"Civil engineering terms such as "man hole" and "man lock," also will not be changed because no common-sense substitutes could easily be found"

Gee, "common sense"?

In a freakin' bill that is filled to the brim with NONSENSE?

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

If these words offend you grow a pair.

[SkyDancer]

The whole Latin language is gender specific (French, Italian, Spanish) - but I understand from reading it was a MANdate from the state to eliminate gender bias. They have no ideas the can of worms they just opened.

[mykroar]

Definately not allowed. Replace with 0bama.

[ken in texas]

Replace with 0bama.

No can do. That word ends in "ma" which is a term often used in reference to one's female parent. It is therefore sexist and must be avoided. /sarc

[TChad]

Misandry by any other name
Would smell just like this cr_p.