Several European languages encourage the continuation of traditional sex roles through the gender underlying their nouns. In this paper, the French, Spanish, and German gender systems will be examined for their contribution to sexism in housework (traditionally the domain of the female) and the nouns relating to bars and pubs (traditionally the domain of the male).

The words in the section below pertaining to housework are feminine in all three languages:

French	German	Spanish	Gloss
cuisine	Kuche	cocina	kitchen
toilette	Toilette	cubeta del inodoro	toilet
vaiselle	Schalen	vajilla	dishes
machine a coudre	Nahmaschine	maquina de coser	sewing machine

The words in this section pertain to bars and are masculine in all three languages:

French	German	Spanish	Gloss
comptoir	Tresen	bar	bar counter
barman	Barkeeper	tabernero	bartender
gin	Gin		gin
ivrogne	Trinker	borrachin	drunkard
whiskey avec de la glace	Scotch mit Eis	escoces con hielo	scotch on the rocks

The words listed show conclusively that all nouns in Western European languages are inherently sexist. They relegate women to their traditional role doing housework. They classify all men as drunken sots. European languages are demeaning to persons of both (and in German, all three) genders. From the examples above it is quite obvious that gender in languages is sexist and should be done away with. It is barbaric, medieval, uncouth, and gauche.

Douglas S. Files

Lansing, Michigan, USA

	Moving Greek Letters—Gianlorenzo Bernini
	A Reinterpretation of Some Aspects of the Indo-European Expansion—William C. Spruiell
	Babel Vol I, No 1 Contents