Why do so many Christians refer to people as "men"?

Because women are an afterthought in that so-called religion. It is right there in Genesis.

Yes, most women were afterthoughts in the majority of society at the times when the Bible was written, but I intend now. Thank you!

The more serious someone takes that religion and its relatives, the more he has internalised this barbaric view of women as an afterthought, as servants, even as property.

Yes, we know this is what some people think, but my intention (which I did not clearly state) was to ask Bible believers. Regardless, thank you!

And while I am on the subject, I also do not understand why, in this age, people are still using “he” when they probably intend all people. This is also barbaric usage and one that marginalizes women—an attempt to view them as useless or property.

Not only Christians use men.

“All men are created equal.”

The masculine was used when it was a mixed gender group. That’s how it works in many languages. Now, in English in America, we have started to get rid of that and use the word people or person instead, or gender neutral terms. Waitperson instead of waitress or waiter, and postperson instead of postman. But, also, I have heard actresses using the term actor now for females also, which is interesting.

I don’t mind the masculine form being used for both genders as long as the person speaking truly is uncludung both genders, and it’s just a manner of speech.

@Qav I think it would probably have been easier to just use he and mean both, because instead “they” is used, which is technically a plural, even when we are referring to a singular person. Although, I see the problem with he, so I understand why we moved in that direction.

Habit. Plus I’d bet they are from an older generation, or the church gives them permission to be #1 in the household.

Yes, @JLeslie , I understand, but the quotation, “All men are created equal” was, of course, written in the 1700s. I am just trying to find out why that is still being used today, in the 2000s. I’ve seen the excuse that writing out “men and women” is too tedious, that using “they” is incorrect but the “powers that be” are considering this anyway, etc. But in an age when we are trying so hard to rectify the misdeeds of the past, I don’t understand why such words are being used now.

Perhaps no one knows? Perhaps everyone is frustrated by this?

@Dutchess_lll I was very recently surprised at seeing it used by a young man on FB. <eyes wide!>

Oh, and maybe it is where I live that makes me question. Using some terms that @JLeslie mentioned, here, they just say postal carrier, waiter (genderless—and yes, I know that “gender” has changed meaning in the last couple decades), and in my shul, the teachers tend to say “men and women ” or “women and men” (they are usually very careful).

@Qav The Jews are more likely to be politically correct, especially if it’s a reform synagogue.

Plus, it’s different talking to a group than speaking about a group. For instance, I might say to you, “When your doctor bills you does he break down the visit?” If I don’t know if your doctor is a man or a woman that might be taken as me assuming he is male, but it’s not necessarily the case. I use he/she a lot, but that can get annoying over and over again in a paragraph, thus the “they” but it feels a little weird to me saying “When your doctor bills you do they break down the visit?”

If I was addressing a room full of people that was obviously full of both men and women I would acknowledge both genders.

I agree with @Dutchess_III simple habit or the dialect or vernacular in the community.

@Qav while you are correct in pointing out that this sexist use of language is dated the sad fact is that the attitudes that it reflects still exists today. Now as to why such attitudes exist I think you will have to look to the centuries of forced paternalism that society has fostered,and continues to demand of its citizenry. Attitudes change extremely slowly.

Yeah. You’re right, as are some of the other jellies. I am clearly over-anxious.

I have been thinking about this since I asked the question, asking myself why this is still bothers me enough that I would bring it up. I remembered that when I was in 2nd grade (1957), my forward-thinking teacher told my class about certain sexist language, saying that some day, it would end. Well, I was little, full of hope and idealism, and I thought she intended it would end before I was an adult. Here I am, 61 years later, and it isn’t even close to ending?

I’m tired. Very tired. Words are a big deal to me, and I have the mistaken idea that they have meaning. I have the mistaken idea that within a singular language, within an area (U.S.A.), common words have common meanings. Instead, I find that those common words are acceptable to be used to belittle people. Waaalll, our non-white friends know this well, having lived with it, with strong violence, for centuries, and I am making a big deal out of the incorrect usage of “he” and “men.” Oh, get over it, Qav. This is really nothing by comparison.

It’s a general term Like when I use the word “you” sometimes. I don’t mean “you” in particular, I just mean people in general of no specific identity.

In my part of the country and in the circles I travel in (liberal, Jewish, Unitarian), there have definitely been changes to saying “men and women”, “he and she”, or “they” and “their.”

Hope!! Yes!

But I really need to get over this, just take a deep breath, and let my grandchildren deal with it—ha-ha!

Meantime, I will enjoy the enlightenment of those who refuse to do this. <Hee-hee!>

Don.t you mean “Hee-Shee”?

@Qav Maybe you will have times when you can interject a correction without being overly annoying. Put a bee in their bonnet.

@janbb . . . or s/he. <hee-hee>

And @JLeslie I like that “bee” thing, too. <grin>

I knew you would. Buzzzzz.