Gender Neutral Language

Feminism is the reason for gender-neutral language in English. Words such as fireman, mailman and policeman are often replaced with firefighter, letter carrier and police officer. Sometimes the word man is replaced with person.

However, words which have a negative connotation are usually not replaced with any other form. This is a clear case of inconsistency. Feminism seems to have no objection to words such as conman, gunman, henchman, hitman, madman, man-eating shark, middleman and yes-man. In the case of conman, though, con artist is also possible.

Likewise, the forms motherland, mother nature and mother tongue are never replaced. Though they are not gender-neutral, they remain because they include the word mother. If they contained the word father, it is likely that other forms would exist.

Feminism is the cause of many gender-neutral words. However, it is clear that the creation of gender-neutral words is inconsistent. Words with negative connotations usually lack gender-neutral forms, and words with mother are never replaced. Feminism only appears to resist the use of  compound words with man when such words have positive connotations.