Insanity: The Word ‘Man’ Is Banned At Princeton University

Matt Vespa | August 20, 2016 3:30 PM

“It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words” is a haunting quote from George Orwell’s 1984, where free thought could constitute a crime in the totalitarian state of Oceania. That’s not necessarily the case on the campus of Princeton University in New Jersey, but they are doing their part in banning words to foster a more inclusive community—whatever that means. The first word on the chopping block is “man,” because after centuries of it being used to describe the various socioeconomic factors associated with human civilization for centuries (and not offending anyone) the word is now...problematic to some social justice folks. The College Fix has more:

Instead of using “man,” employees are told to use words such as human beings, individuals or people.

Other guidelines? Instead of “man and wife” use spouses or partners. Switch out “man made” with artificial, handmade or manufactured. Don’t use the verb “to man,” as in to work something, instead use to operate or to staff. Throw out workmanlike and replace it with skillful.

The memo goes on to list a variety of occupations that typically include the word “man” in them and offers replacements: business person instead of businessman, firefighter instead of fireman, ancestors instead of forefathers, and so on.

“Consistent with style guidelines issued by Princeton’s Office of Human Resources and Office of Communications, and as endorsed by the Institutional Equity Planning Group as a preferred University practice, HR has developed these gender inclusive style guidelines, to be utilized by all HR staff members in HR communications, policies, job descriptions, and job postings,” the memo states.

In a statement to The College Fix, John Cramer, Princeton’s director of media relations, said the guidelines “reflect the university’s initiative of fostering an inclusive environment.”

A number of other universities have established similar guidelines in an effort to promote gender-inclusive language, including UNC-Chapel Hill, the University of Tennessee and Marquette University.

Yale, another member of the Ivy League, has faced student-led efforts to reform its English literature offering because too many of the English authors studied in the courses are white men.