The A-Z of Non-Sexist Language (Women's Press Handbook Series) by Margaret Doyle

This dictionary of nonsexist language competes with Rosalie Maggio's much more comprehensive: The Nonsexist Word Finder (Oryx, 1987). Doyle's dictionary is less thorough in part because Doyle, unlike Maggio, defines sexist language more narrowly as language that discriminates only against women. So while both books have entries on "babe," "old maid," and "lady killer," only Maggio includes "hubby," "hunk," and "bozo." Doyle does have terms not covered by Maggio, e.g., "Granny Smith" and "pussy-whipped," and also includes a brief but useful bibliography. In addition, Doyle includes 15 two-thirds-page essays on such topics as "chairman" and "church language." Both authors do a fine job of clearly and objectively explaining the problem with the sexist terms and suggesting alternatives, e.g., firefighter rather than fireman. Maggio's books are the better choice, but Doyle's might be purchased as a supplement.?Peter A. Dollard, Alma Coll. Lib., Mich.