When we specify a person’s sex when it isn’t necessary to do so, we enable sexism. The word ‘he’ as (supposedly) gender-neutral has crept back into use, insidiously promoting sexism previously challenged by language changes introduced in the 70s. We need to go back to she/he or better still lets all embrace ‘they’ even though it is grammatically awkward. Don’t accept pink for girls and blue for boys either. Or gendered toys ffs. Do you really think your daughter only wants pink plastic high heels when her brother gets the blue shoes with wheels in the soles?
