Alette Olin Hill

Study of women and language by a linguist. Another documentation of sexist language, including non-parallelism, "un-marked" male pronouns, etc.

Recites the law case of Susan B. Anthony who cast a vote in 1872, and was then arrested for unlawfully voting in the election. At her trial the prosecution argued that the use of masculine pronouns (he, his and him) in all of the Constitution and laws was proof that only males were to be included in their provisions. She urged the court to consider that consistency would compel the court to exempt women from taxation and from penalties in violation of the law for which no "she or her" was provided. She was convicted and fined.

The first use of "male" in the Constitution is in the XIV amdt restriction of the franchise to vote, retained until ratification of the 19th amdt in 1920.… (més)