Due to my own experience, I have no assumptions that a person in business may be a man or a woman but I find myself wishing for a third, gender-neutral noun for use in English. I know we have ‘it’ but it’s less neutral and more potentially derogatory.
“So I have been desperately pitching for new business to lots of dusty old men who say things like;
“aren’t you a ‘great girl’, running your own business – do you work all on your own?â€
Which roughly translates as;
“Is there anyone with a Penis involved or is it just you and your Vagina?â€
When I started running my own business, I experienced similar sentiment. I ‘looked’ young. Having been burned before by competitors who went out of business, they wanted to know would me and my business still be around in a year. They wanted to know would I still be around when they needed me or was I planning to swan off on holiday – or would I have any backup?
I don’t necessarily believe that they were being ageist in my case just as I don’t believe the antagonists were being sexist necessarily in her case. I took a load of shithere and here last year because I think that equality starts with not patronising people or giving one sector of the community better treatment than others.
In her case, I don’t think she didn’t get the contract because of her cleavage.
P.S. Flame on!