[split] Names, pronouns, articles... and gender

[Farseer]

That does beg the question(s): to what extent does the use or non-use of gender specific pronouns in a language affect how people relate to each other according to gender?

I think I could take that question a couple of ways such as: a) that the males and females of a land who do not use gender-specific pronouns in their language possibly have a more equal footing with each other; two-way admiration and respect etc within society in general or b) the addition of a gender-specific pronoun, say in text, creates a firm distinction between the genders and the response to any gender-specific pronoun (I guess) depends on that society's viewpoint of each gender and such things as gender equality/inequality etc, not to mention personal experience with any given gender?

...OR I have missed the point of the question entirely?!

I don't think it likely that the first languages created would be gender-neutral, so do languages evolve to be gender neutral? Why would one language be gender neutral and another not?

Not having any real knowledge of other languages outside of English, I feel at a real disadvantage with such topics, especially as the English language has no singular form of a gender-neutral pronoun (that I am aware of?)! You could say "Give that to its owner" but you'd be talking about an animal or thing, not a human. It's no problem in the plural form with 'their' or 'they' or 'them'...

Of course, there are many instances throughout history where the male pronoun has been used as a generic or gender-neutral term, I suppose, and is even used in many texts today though just as often alternated with 'she'...ah, what's an example?? Tsk, I can't come up with anything so will have to think on that (!!) but, you know, rather than write man/woman or he/she every time, a text will just use the one pronoun to include both genders eg The following sentence may be found in a parenting magazine: "Should the child scream, hold him tight to your chest as the needle is inserted into his arm." This use of 'him' includes female children as well.

Oh, what about "All men are created equal"? That's an example that no doubt had many Amercian women gnashing their teeth for a good many years, though it could be said that it was first stated that way as women were truly not considered to be equal to men at that stage (??)...that it was only that all men were created equal in comparison to other men? I'm not sure, I'd have to look it up!

Sorry, I think I've gone off track...if I was ever on it!! It doesn't help that I am procrastinating BADLY on a big job I have to complete, despite it now being 4:30am!!