MAN BAN BLASTED
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STUDENTS have been warned they will lose marks unless they use “gender-sensitive language” in their essays.
Words such as “mankind”, “forefathers”, “manpower”, “manhole” and “right-hand man” are frowned upon by many academics.
A number of colleges and universities have now told pupils they should not use terms such as “he” or “she” to describe people.
Transgender people account for just 0.1% of the population. But lecturers at Hull University’s school of social science are threatening to take off marks if students they use “forbidden” words.
One tutor told students on a religious activism course: “In your essay, I expect you to be aware of the nature of language and use gendersensitive formations.
“Failure to use gender-sensitive language will impact on your mark.”
A senior academic at the university said: “Should any student use language not deemed gender-neutral, they will be offered feedback as to why. Deduction of marks is taken on a case-by-case basis.”
Politically-correct bosses at an American university made a similar decision last week.
English student Cailin Jeffers was shocked to find lecturer Dr Anne Scott had deducted a mark after she submitted an essay using the word “mankind” at Northern Arizona University.
Angry Dr Scott told Cailin that the Modern Language Association was working to have “genderneutral guidelines” adopted on a national level.
She fumed: “You and other students must look beneath your assumptions and understanding that ‘mankind’ does not mean ‘all people’ to all people. It does NOT.”