A question for women who write poetry.

[&*(9)%46#$&]

Or should that be a question for poets who are women? Or a question for poetesses?

[Julie]

Originally posted by &*(9)%46#$&:
Or should that be a question for poets who are women? Or a question for poetesses?

Please, not poetesses. That's hideous.

Julie

[&*(9)%46#$&]

Thanks for the response Julie. I have posted
my question on a couple of other sites and most women agree with you that poetess is a hideous term.

On reflection, I think the problem with the
question that I asked is that one is never
solely a woman or a man. One is always a woman or man of a certain age,height, weight,
class,race,ethnic background, sexual orientation who is living in a certain time and place.

[Donner]

Originally posted by &*(9)%46#$&:
Or should that be a question for poets who are women? Or a question for poetesses?

A woman who is a doctor is not called a 'doctoress'.

A woman who is a lawyer is not called an 'attorneyess'.

A women who is a teacher is not called a 'teacheress' or an 'instructoress'.

A women who is an engineer is not called an 'engineeress'.

The term 'poet' is all-encompassing, I would think.

Donner, not Donneress

[Erika S]

I have often heard the term "instructress" used, esp. in reference to female horseback riding teachers.

-Erika

[barisaxchick]

hmmm...
should i be a saxess?
a musicina?

a sergeantess?

i guess there are times when worrying about gender is a little silly. I felt that way when I saw that the army is now going to officially use the term "army bandsperson" as the title of my occupational specialty. What a silly word.

[Andrea345]

Any "actress" on the boards? As I understand there's the preference for "actor" in that title as well.

-a
"Dammit Jim, I'm an engineer not an engineeress! So quit looking at my legs that way!"

[Kemmer]

Enough already! I thought this was all decided back in the '70s when actresses became actors. A poet is a poet is a poet.

A woman who writes poetry may or may not be a poet. (But continue to be very careful with "artiste.")

Kemmer



[This message has been edited by Kemmer (edited 05-11-2001).]

[nyeldell]

How many females would be upset at being called a goddess? :-)

Nathan :-)

[Patrice]

Nathan, You can just call me a Deity.

[Kemmer]

Nathan, "goddess" would probably slip by, but "godette" could bring down serious lightning strikes. Be very careful when denigrating dieties. The safety of nomenclature is largely based on whether or not they're paying attention.

Kemmer (ducking now.)

[Howard Miller]

Poetrix?


Howard

[Gridlock]

Poetrix looks exotic. At first glance, the word makes me think of "Phoenix", which is a pretty cool thing. But I think that a woman poet should just be referred to as a poet, especially in this day and age where the usage of "man" is being replace with "human beings". Neutrality seems to be the way to go. http://www.everypoet.com/poetry/poetry_forums/smile.gif

[Patrice]

Howard, I once changed the spelling of my name to "Patrix" but everyone called me Patricks so I changed it back.