http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2016/01/07/navy-looks-remove-man-all-job-titles/78415190/

“Lastly, as we achieve full integration of the force … this is an opportunity to update the position titles and descriptions themselves to demonstrate through this language that women are included in these positions," Mabus wrote, according to sources who quoted directly from the letter. “Ensure they are gender-integrated as well, removing “man” from their titles, and provide a report to me as soon as is practicable and no later than April 1, 2016.”

[...]

Some hallowed titles like seaman could be tough to replace, but others could be swapped with gender neutral descriptors as the service has done before. In 2005, for example, officials changed personnelman, a rating where many women had served, to personnel specialist.

There are at least 20 job titles that include the word "man." Aviation has the most to review, with five of their 12 enlisted rating descriptions ending with “man.” Surface engineering includes eight.

“Simply removing 'man' and replacing it with technician or specialist works in many cases,” said the source familiar with the memo.

etc.

Insidious PC culture seeping into hallowed traditions, or a timely change to outdated customs? You decide.

I've always assumed that -man denoted a human position. Mankind refers to everyone.

It's not a big deal, mailman isn't the official term anymore either iirc. I'd be more concerned with them replacing them with something silly.

I've never understood the people who got upset at -man titles... never really met one in person myself 'till I started traveling away from home.
Must be a city liberal thing.

Part of me also just wants to say "it's the fucking military. Here's a straw, you little shit" when I see these things.

Stupidity.

In other news, 'semen' is still oppressive.

Who cares?

Oh look, people don't understand that "man" has two meanings. What's new?

You realize that doesn't add anything to the discussion, right?

The fact that "man" has two meanings is the issue itself. The fact that the masculine denomination for human beings in the English language takes precedence over the feminine denomination is still conspicuously evident.

We do understand that, because it's precisely the problem. We can't change the historical roots, but we can change how we structure our language.

That's why I always opt to use the word "artificial" instead of "man-made", because the androcentric nature of my language kind of repulses me, and it should repulse you too.

kinda dumb considering the word man usually =humans in general

Mankind
Man-made
Woman
Human
Etc

It's not sexist, really.

I wonder what SJW's think of Spanish which uses "o" and "a" to denote male and female, respectively.

It's retarded.

kinda dumb considering the word man usually =humans in general

Mankind
Man-made
Woman
Human
Etc

It's not sexist, really.

Then why does "man" mean "masculine" rather than the more traditional, old english word "werman"?