It’s not the first time that definitions in the dictionary have been labeled sexist.
Earlier this year, feminists attacked the Oxford English Dictionary because the phrase “rabid feminist” was cited as a usage example of the word “rabid.” The same outrage warriors expressed their displeasure that the word “research” involved a man—not a woman—as an example of someone who does research.
The argument that the dictionary is biased solely against women falls flat. Men are often the subjects of negative usage examples within the dictionary. The argument only makes sense if you choose to ignore any and all instances of men being referred to in negative, or even pejorative terms.
I’ve taken the liberty of highlighting a few examples:
Google, which pulls dictionary definitions from the Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English, is currently under fire from feminists for its supposed use of “sexist, outdated tropes.” Sites like Mashable have been more than happy to promote this narrative.
In an interview with Mashable, the feminists leading the latest charge want to “raise awareness around this and try and get these definitions contemporized to be more accurate examples that define women in a more positive light.”
Instances that give offense are the usage examples for words like “promiscuous” and “hysterical.” They’ve taken to starting a hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, #redefinewomen. The nascent movement has since been retweeted and endorsed by UN Women.
They are steadfast in their belief that Google will comply with their proposal and amend all examples in which women are negatively portrayed.
Should Google opt to do so, the only remaining negative usage examples would consist entirely of men as their subjects. It’s hardly equal, and highly problematic (to steal a term that feminists often use) if only men are cast in a bad light.
“We see Google as a really progressive and forward-thinking company,” they said. “We think they’d be so on board with something like this and want to maintain that positive perception and trust people have in Google.”
Mashable reports that while the feminists are focusing on redefining words in the dictionary, the movement is merely the “start of a conversation.”
“Because it’s a fundamental thing that we need to get right if these bigger conversations are going to be impactful,” members of the group said.
For its role in compiling these definitions, Oxford Dictionaries says that the sentences were lifted from a variety of sources and do not represent their views.
The dictionary isn’t sexist, nor are its definitions. The dictionary is simply a catalog—a reflection, if you will—of how words are used in general society. A dictionary that only served to provide politically correct terms and not actual usage examples wouldn’t be a very good dictionary. It would certainly make a good tool for indoctrination, however.
