Re: [Marxism] on sexist language

["Michael Karadjis" <mkaradjis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Les Schaffer" <schaffer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Louise Walker unsubscribed shortly after replying to Jscotlive.
>
I hope Louise reconsiders and resubscribes to the list, because I don't
think the couple of problematic blokes who couldn't help shooting their
mouths off to show off their lack of political education represent the
majority on the list.

what happened here was that Louise came into a forum dominated 95% by
men and made the politically elementary request that sexist language not
be used, and was confronted with a lot of nonsense about "division" of
the working class etc, and even her "cognitive skills" were challenged
for objecting to the use of the word "whore".

Jscotlive tells us that language is not the issue and they come across
working class people every day who use such language and he is not going
to make a big issue of it. He says:
"The word 'whore' has been assimilated into the lexicon of everyday
language, as has 'pimp' (which men could find offensive) and others.
This divorces us from the issue of class as the root of the real
division within society, and language as a symptom of that
division."

There is a difference between making a big deal about language every
time you confront a worker who uses sexist language, which would be
stupid, and the language that people use who call themselves marxists,
on a marxism list. I would have thought that was ABC.
Trouble is, I don't believe a word of it Jscotlive. You would probably
also not always immediately confront a worker using RACIST language
either. Understanding that some langauge is racist and sexist comes with
political education. You have to be tactful and careful.

How about if I said "The word 'nigger' has been assimilated into the
lexicon of everyday language. This divorces us from the issue of class
as the root of the real division within society, and language as a
symptom of that division."

Lots of workers call black people "niggers". If you are out supporting
some workers on a picket line and you jump down their throats as soon as
you hear a racist term, you might not be very effective. But if people
here, on marxmail, used racist language, you'd rightly object.

As for Greg Adler writing a post allegedly to defend Louis Walker's
objection to using "whore" but then dedicating 80% of his post to a wild
sectarian attack on the DSP, well, I know sectarianism dies hard Greg,
but just to clarify:

- Jscotlive is not a member of the DSP
- Jscotlive with his attitudes wouldn't find membership in the DSP in a
fit
- in the DSP, the fact that the word "whore" is considered sexist is so
basic that I learnt it about 33 years ago when I was 13, and it's
actually not that difficult



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