Why do female actors, previously known as actresses,

[Guest]

now get referred to as actors?

just wondered......

Edited November 7, 2012 by tonyblair

[jump]

I think both terms are used, the awards still say best actress/supporting actress.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Because it is a gender neutral title. Keep up

[Rufus Gwertigan]

we still call each other men or women, or boys or girls. Will we call female police officers policemen? Why go for what was the male option, why not call them (male and female) actresses? Who makes these decisions?

[TheGayTent]

Is actor male? If so, probably only because women weren't allowed to act.

We don't call men and women policemen or policewomen, they're police officers. Ditto with firefighters.

A doctor is a doctor regardless of sex.

I think some things are OTT, changing the name of a manhole cover for instance. But actors act, regardless of sex surely?

Would be interesting to see though, if in the interests of equality, BAFTAs or OSCARs were given out for solely the best actor or supporting actor, and not as separate awards for male and female.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Is actor male? If so, probably only because women weren't allowed to act.

We don't call men and women policemen or policewomen, they're police officers. Ditto with firefighters.

A doctor is a doctor regardless of sex.

I think some things are OTT, changing the name of a manhole cover for instance. But actors act, regardless of sex surely?

Would be interesting to see though, if in the interests of equality, BAFTAs or OSCARs were given out for solely the best actor or supporting actor, and not as separate awards for male and female.

[mrtourette]

Would also be interesting to see if female athletes and, um, sportspeople would be happy with mixed gender events.

[5co77ie]

I'd be happy with archery events being mixed gender - I can see no reason why a female archer is any different to a male archer (and at longbow events they are often considered equals).

Although it would make the places for squad and nationals much tighter I guess as there wouldn't need to be a ladies and gents team - so that would mean half the numbers at the highest level.

[jump]

The awards would take half the time as well

[LondonTom]

But if they say Female Actor rather than just Actor surely that's missing the point and you may as well say Actress?

[Stash]

Female police officers have tht title of "Police Constable" just the same as the men

[The Nal]

I remember the PC crowd were tinkering with the gender neutral "rons" at the end of professions e.g "Waitrons" instead of waitresses.

Chairman and chairwoman were nearly made obsolete too in favour of "chairperson".

I couldn't give a fuck what they call themselves to be honest as long as my shirt gets ironed.......

(joke)

Edited November 6, 2012 by The Nal

[guypjfreak]

top of the range old son ....so wot would it be if say a women became president of the U.S one day the presidentes lol

tis a mad world we live in

[feral chile]

just wondered...?

[feral chile]

top of the range old son ....so wot would it be if say a women became president of the U.S one day the presidentes lol

tis a mad world we live in

[Ed209]

I got told off by a militant feminist once for referring to the person who delivered my post as the postwoman. She said I should call them the postman. I was very confused.

[feral chile]

I got told off by a militant feminist once for referring to the person who delivered my post as the postwoman. She said I should call them the postman. I was very confused.

[Kyelo]

Men and women are different, end of discussion. Different terms for each doesn't have to mean a lack of equality!

[eFestivals]

Different terms for each doesn't have to mean a lack of equality!

it doesn't have to, true .... but there's no doubting that it's part of the toolkit which is used to ensure inequality.

[AcademicPistol]

I got told off by a militant feminist once for referring to the person who delivered my post as the postwoman. She said I should call them the postman. I was very confused.

[AcademicPistol]

Some languages (e.g Spanish) are completely orientated around masculine and feminine words by adding an 'A' or 'O' at the end of a lot of words. What will they do?!

[Kyelo]

Madness I tells ya, lets call all people fleshblobs from now on....

[feral chile]

Men and women are different, end of discussion. Different terms for each doesn't have to mean a lack of equality!

Edited November 7, 2012 by feral chile

[Kyelo]

Yes, men and women are different. But since they don't need to really have sex or give birth in most acting roles, it's irrelevant what reproductive organs they happen to have as far as their acting ability is concerned.

[feral chile]

It's also irrelevant which title they get unless its derogatory...which it isn't.