Mistress, Actress, Heroine

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by Smitty (via Insty)

Amidst an excellent review of Nikki Haley’s campaign to govern South Carolina, Walter Shapiro says, emphasis mine:

Haley, in her first statewide campaign, has proven a master of boomerang politics – making every attack seem like a vindication of her conservative populist outrage.

Shouldn’t that be “a mistress”?

I don’t mean to go all Little Miss Attila on the point, but should conservatives worry about conserving gender in the English language? I see a page like Female Actor Search and wonder: is this an epic fail, or an admission that the language, like the Constitution and history, are poorly taught these days?

But that’s just a tangent. The poll is open, and it’s time to go participate in the primary. Go, USA!

44 comments

  1. I wrote the article in question and you make an interesting linguistic argument. But there is some dictionary-based justification to argue that “master” in terms of showing mastery has long been a gender-neutral noun. Take this definition, for example, from Merriam-Webster Unabridged that I subscribe to online: “: a person having mastery of or control over something abstract or immaterial <master of his own time."

    By the way, I am flattered that you liked the commentary on the fascinating South Carolina race.

  2. I wrote the article in question and you make an interesting linguistic argument. But there is some dictionary-based justification to argue that “master” in terms of showing mastery has long been a gender-neutral noun. Take this definition, for example, from Merriam-Webster Unabridged that I subscribe to online: “: a person having mastery of or control over something abstract or immaterial <master of his own time."

    By the way, I am flattered that you liked the commentary on the fascinating South Carolina race.

  5. Funny, how we insert gender where is does not exist in human populations. people are either male or female. Yet we ignore gender where is does exist, as property of nouns, masculine or feminine.

  6. Funny, how we insert gender where is does not exist in human populations. people are either male or female. Yet we ignore gender where is does exist, as property of nouns, masculine or feminine.

  7. With all the commotion regarding an alleged affair, the person who made that statement was probably trying to exercise some sensitivity regarding current dilemmas even though he was grammatically incorrect.

  8. With all the commotion regarding an alleged affair, the person who made that statement was probably trying to exercise some sensitivity regarding current dilemmas even though he was grammatically incorrect.

  11. Ok, this is REALLY pedantic, but I would argue that in this context, “master” is correct.

    A person, male or female, “masters” a craft, art, technique, etc., and therefore becomes a “master” at it or of it.

    Female graduates do not become a “Mistress” of arts or sciences. We speak of someone as a “past master” at something, whether the person is a man or a woman, not a “past mistress.”

    A mistress is a female in charge of something, such as a pet, household, or, er…whatever.

  12. Ok, this is REALLY pedantic, but I would argue that in this context, “master” is correct.

    A person, male or female, “masters” a craft, art, technique, etc., and therefore becomes a “master” at it or of it.

    Female graduates do not become a “Mistress” of arts or sciences. We speak of someone as a “past master” at something, whether the person is a man or a woman, not a “past mistress.”

    A mistress is a female in charge of something, such as a pet, household, or, er…whatever.

  13. I’ll agree with Red as well, because a lot of people think of “mistress” as “what’s between a master and a mattress”, rather than the gender specific definition for “a woman in a position of authority”.

    They’re wrong, of course. Or just have a dirty mind. But then, even some dictionarieshave a dirty mind.

  14. I’ll agree with Red as well, because a lot of people think of “mistress” as “what’s between a master and a mattress”, rather than the gender specific definition for “a woman in a position of authority”.

    They’re wrong, of course. Or just have a dirty mind. But then, even some dictionarieshave a dirty mind.

  15. “Female Actors” would be men who play women’s roles.

    “Actresses” are women who play women’s roles.

    “Female Actress” would be, say, Rosie O’Donnell – someone who both lacks the X chromosome and is offered women’s roles.

  16. “Female Actors” would be men who play women’s roles.

    “Actresses” are women who play women’s roles.

    “Female Actress” would be, say, Rosie O’Donnell – someone who both lacks the X chromosome and is offered women’s roles.

  19. Thanks Jeff 😀 Yeah, you don’t hear mistress being used in a grammatically correct way too often probably because of the illicit word association”…because a lot of people think of “mistress” as “what’s between a master and a mattress”. That’s the 21st century for ya!

  20. Thanks Jeff 😀 Yeah, you don’t hear mistress being used in a grammatically correct way too often probably because of the illicit word association”…because a lot of people think of “mistress” as “what’s between a master and a mattress”. That’s the 21st century for ya!

  21. Red beat me to it.

    “Mistress”, like “Madam”, acquired overtones of sexual impropriety somewhere along the way and is often not used for respectable women anymore, lest anyone get the wrong idea.

    because a lot of people think of “mistress” as “what’s between a master and a mattress”. That’s the 21st century for ya!

    What about women who like being on top?

  22. Red beat me to it.

    “Mistress”, like “Madam”, acquired overtones of sexual impropriety somewhere along the way and is often not used for respectable women anymore, lest anyone get the wrong idea.

    because a lot of people think of “mistress” as “what’s between a master and a mattress”. That’s the 21st century for ya!

    What about women who like being on top?

  25. I really make a point of trying to preserve gender differnces in our language.

    We make a loud showy point of proclaaiming the need to embrace diversity in our culture… and then we make it harder to describe it. Seems hypocritical to me.

  26. I really make a point of trying to preserve gender differnces in our language.

    We make a loud showy point of proclaaiming the need to embrace diversity in our culture… and then we make it harder to describe it. Seems hypocritical to me.

  29. What about women who like being on top?

    If I were not very, very happily married I’d reply: call them whatever they want to be called, but have them call me.

  30. What about women who like being on top?

    If I were not very, very happily married I’d reply: call them whatever they want to be called, but have them call me.

  38. A master of boomerang politics …..is a political degree…somewhere in between bachelor and doctor of boomerang. I recall the university I attended offered it.

  39. A master of boomerang politics …..is a political degree…somewhere in between bachelor and doctor of boomerang. I recall the university I attended offered it.

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