Mass. Laws Opting For Gender-Neutral Language

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Women make up more than 50 percent of the state's population, but taking a look at Massachusetts laws, you won't find the word "she" in them. The laws are all written with masculine pronouns, something State Representative Cory Atkins found out while reading a nursing bill a year ago. "And I kept reading 'he' this, and 'he' that," the democrat from Concord said, "There are male nurses, but the profession is predominantly a female profession." So, Atkins is sponsoring a bill that would require gender inclusive language, he/she and him/her, in all new laws. Suffolk law student, Amy Bluoin says it doesn't really bother her to see the masculine pronouns plus, "I know in a lot of our studies now, professors go out of their way to say he/she gender neutral to make it apply to everyone." From the house, the bill goes... [read full story]