Advertisement

The Last Word With Matt Cooper

The Week Trending - US City To Ban Gendered Words Like 'Manhole'

If you visit Berkeley, California and happen to come across a manhole, you can now expect it to hea...
Sarah Stacey
Sarah Stacey

5:28 PM - 19 Jul 2019



The Last Word With Matt Cooper

The Week Trending - US City To Ban Gendered Words Like 'Manhole'

Sarah Stacey
Sarah Stacey

5:28 PM - 19 Jul 2019

Listen to this episode



If you visit Berkeley, California and happen to come across a manhole, you can now expect it to hear it referred to as a 'maintenance hole' instead.

This is just one word the US city is replacing with a gender-neutral alternative, as part of its new ordinance as voted for by the council.

Other words to be changed include 'manpower', which will become 'human effort', and 'fireman' or 'firewoman', which will simply be 'firefighter'.

Is there any need for the changes? Or are they a good step forward in terms of how language is used?

Daniel Cahill and Dee Reddy joined us for The Week Trending to discuss this and some of the other stories making the news this week, including Boris Johnson's performance at the Tory hustings.

Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page.


Read more about

Boris Johnson Cats Manhole Moon Landing Sunburn The Week Trending

Related Podcasts

Will It Become Too Expensive T...

00:09:32

Will It Become Too Expensive To Own Cars In Urban Areas?

The Last Word With Matt Cooper

00:09:32


Wireless Accessories For Lapto...

00:09:51

Wireless Accessories For Laptop Or PC

The Last Word With Matt Cooper

00:09:51


Gift Grub: What's Next For Leo...

00:05:07

Gift Grub: What's Next For Leo Varadkar?

The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show

00:05:07


A Colleague Told Me I Smell Ca...

00:07:44

A Colleague Told Me I Smell Can I Report Her For Bullying?

Ray Foley

00:07:44