Whenever I write on a standpoint of a third-party observer I usually have a hard time using pronouns that would generalize without showing a preference for one gender. For example, “An employee brings with him/her a complex plethora of attitudes, beliefs, habits, experience and talent into the job.” The use of “him/her” seems awkward to read so I often end up deleting “with him/her” from the sentence.
Feminists have long since questioned the use of male-oriented pronouns when writers generalize their sentences. Why should one gender be favored above all when the concept or idea should apply to everyone, including the female of the species, right? But then having a male God is a social construct. It is not a direct rejection of the female population.
So is it alright to refer to God as Her and not Him? Hmmm… How do you think will “Our Lord’s Prayer” look like? It will probably start with “Our Mother, who art in heaven…” And it will be called “Our Lady’s Prayer.”
In the end, when I get stumped with pronouns, I usually end up using the male-oriented ones. It’s not because I’m against Feminism, it is because I find it easier and more comfortable to generalize with “he”, “his” and “him” than “she” or “her”.
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when referring to unspecified tender of gender, by general english rule, it would be much more appropriate that they are referenced with masculine sex tender . the reason for this, would be masculine dominance :p LOL. logically, “it” cannot be used since they are living things. the rule says singular living things are referenced by a masculine pronoun.
additionally, three things are also being considered here.
first referencing them as feminine does not mean it is wrong and inappropriate. this provides more emphasis that the singular pronoun is literally feminine.
secondly, objects when used as part of human life social interactions such as human naming conventions are properly emphasized in a more feminine form of gender – like the name of the car or boat in a modern world.
elaborately, carpenters are more likely masculine, so the norms to be used is “him” , but employee is considered as in general terms (i strongly believe), that would be him as well.
hope this helps a bit.
oh i forgot, if they are used in plural form, “she” is still avoided as they change their minds easily, but “them” is appropriate like for pilots, teachers, chefs, employees.
duh, elementary kids can pinpoint this much better in a more fashion way, LOL.