Hi Gretchen, thank you for commenting. Your approach to these conversations is wonderful. The conversations I’ve seen in the past have tended to focus heavily on semantics. Sure, language is important but it closes the discussion off to those of us who are deemed not to be eligible to participate because we are not female.

I know why I tend not to participate. I’m not sure if other men feel similarly but I frequently have the sense that my distinct lack of experience as a woman apparently disqualifies me from making contributions unless they are precisely framed in acceptable language.

It is deeply frustrating. I much prefer the more open approach you argue for. Surely we can have an honest conversation that isn’t dependent on some linguistic code? I clearly should have started following you a long time ago!