Critical Analysis Essay: In Defense of Gender

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Readers that agree with McFadden will be quick to point out that McFadden's sarcastic tone is one of satire, that her extreme statements are therefore not her actual beliefs. Still by taking this tone, she is making a statement about the necessity for gender neutrality in general. McFadden speaks of a writer named Beverly Terman, who chooses to write under the name "Terwoman". McFadden asks "why not Beverly Terperson? Or better, since "Terperson" contains "son", "Terdaughter"? Or a final refinement, Beverly Ter?"(A.9) By mocking those who, in her eyes, go overboard with the neutralizing of the English language she is mocking the efforts of people who are for less extreme measures than the one's she has jokingly stated. The point that McFadden makes is rendered loud and clear; she is not convinced that changing our language will change much else. Perhaps McFadden is correct in thinking this; however, to meet a kind and noble effort, one that will become a benefit to our society, both men and woman alike, with so much resistance and mockery, makes no sense. By calling a female mail carrier a mailperson, as opposed to a mailman, will not change the fact that some people in our society may still discriminate against her because of her gender. But at least it recognized that fact that she does not need to adopt a male title just because there have previously been no alternatives. Again McFadden uses these examples to show that making any alterations is far more work than the reward. She mocks the writer, Beverly Terman, creating an extreme example of the author's choice of her pen name. Again this is another extreme example of Mcfadden's.

Contrary to what McFadden is saying, making an attempt to change on any scale, need not be viewed as ridiculous or futile just because it may be difficult as history has shown to many of us, change rarely comes without some level of controversy. It is because of attitudes such as the one Cyra McFadden adepts that something as straightforward and seemingly simple as recognizing both genders in our language becomes insurmountable. Our workforce and society are always changing, as are the people and ideas which inhabit them; it only makes sense that our language should to change and develop as we do, rather than keeping us tethered to an archaic viewpoint that, in a majority, no longer exists.

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