Lots of things can lead college professors to dock students’ points on their essays, from faulty reasoning to lame examples to bad spelling.
But one British university is adding something new to the list: the failure to use “gender sensitive” language.
The University of Hull social science department has warned students that the use of non-inclusive language in their assignments will “impact on their mark,” according to documents obtained by The Sunday Times.
One document from a course on religious activism claims: “Language is important and highly symbolic. In your essay, I thus expect you to be aware of the powerful and symbolic nature of language and use gender-sensitive formulations. Failure to use gender-sensitive language will impact your mark.”
“Should any student use language which is not deemed gender-neutral, they will be offered feedback as to why. Deduction of marks is taken on a case-by-case basis,” a senior lecturer in religion at the university said.
Critics slammed the decision to mark down students for employing the words they see fit. Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at Kent University and outspoken critic of political correctness on British campuses, claimed Hull University is engaging in “linguistic policing.”
“Usually such threats are implicit rather than spelled out, as in the case of Hull,” he said. “This linguistic policing is used as a coercive tool to impose a conformist outlook. The alternative is to pay a penalty of being marked down.”
John Sutherland, emeritus Lord Northcliffe professor of English literature at UCL, said: “So you fail your Shakespeare exam if you mention The Taming of the Shrew? Brave new world.”
Hull University isn’t the first higher education institution to tell students to use “inclusive language.” Cardiff Metropolitan University’s code of practice on language has a list for students with banned words. Terms such as “forefathers,” “best man for the job” or “man-hour” must be avoided to “promote an atmosphere in which all students feel valued.”
Another university in Bath instructs students to avoid “mankind” and instead use “humanity,” “humans” or “people.”
In the U.S., a student at Northern Arizona University had her grade marked down for using non-inclusive language in her essay. She used the word “mankind” in a paper.
Appearing on “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” the student claims the professor who marked her down said “gendered language” is sexist, oppressive and anti-woman.
https://heatst.com/culture-wars/pro...s-if-they-dont-use-gender-sensitive-language/
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/dont-man-up-students-may-lose-marks-for-using-he-t356wkdrq