Have you ever looked up the definition of the word woman in the dictionary? What you see may be surprising or could be mindblowing, but thanks to 2020 for finally being the year the change happens.
What We Know:
- The Oxford University Press has changed the definition of the word “woman” in its dictionaries after an online petition called on them to remove “sexist” language. There were words in the dictionary describing a woman as a wench, piece, and other derogatory terms according to USA Today. Even though these are getting removed, there are still some that will be left and considered offensive to some.
- The petition was started by London-based communication strategist Maria Beatrice Giovanardi in 2019. More than 34,000 people signed it which pushed the Oxford University Press to make some changes. In the petition, Giovanardi wrote, “This is completely unacceptable by a reputable source like the Oxford University Press, but it’s even more worrying when you consider how much influence they have in setting norms around our language and that this can influence the way that women are spoken about online.”
- One of the definitions was also altered to acknowledge that a woman can be “a person’s wife, girlfriend, or female lover,” not only a man’s. “We have expanded the dictionary coverage of ‘woman’ with more examples and idiomatic phrases which depict women in a positive and active manner,” according to a statement from OUP. “We have ensured that offensive synonyms or senses are clearly labeled as such and only included where we have evidence of real-world usage.”
- Since these changes were finally happening, a statement was released from USA Today from Giovanardi. “I’m very happy that they have made the changes they have made,” she said. “The definition, as a result, is now more inclusive especially of the LGBTQ community.” She also says even though all of her goals weren’t met, this is a victory and hopes that other dictionaries will make this change as well.
The Oxford dictionary’s change is a massive change for the entire world, and it’s only a matter of time for other dictionaries to follow behind. It may only be the first word that gets massive attention, but many more are sure to follow.
