Why do we always default to 'he' when we speak?
Have you ever had the feeling that the world wasn't quite made for you?
Imagine if you were left-handed, but all the scissors, desks, can openers, and even computer mice in the world were designed for right-handed people. You could still use them, of course, but they'd always feel a bit awkward, not quite right. You'd feel like an 'exception', constantly having to adapt to a 'default' rule.
Actually, the language we use every day is just like this world designed for right-handed people.
It has an invisible 'default setting'.
Language's 'Factory Settings' Are a Bit Outdated
Think about it: when we mention words like 'doctor', 'lawyer', 'writer', or 'programmer', does the first image that comes to mind tend to be male or female?
In most cases, we default to a male image. If it's a woman, we often feel the need to specifically add the character '女' (nǚ, meaning female), for example, '女医生' (female doctor) or '女程序员' (female programmer).
Conversely, we rarely say '男护士' (nán hùshi, male nurse) or '男秘书' (nán mìshū, male secretary), because in these fields, the default image has shifted to female.
Why is this the case?
This isn't some conspiracy; it's simply because our language is a very ancient system, with its 'factory settings' established hundreds, or even thousands, of years ago. In those eras, social roles were very clearly defined, and most public roles were performed by men. Consequently, language set 'male' as the 'default option' for describing human professions and identities.
The pronoun '他' (tā), meaning 'he', not only represents males but is also often used to refer to a person of unspecified gender. It's as if, in the system, 'person = he'. Meanwhile, '她' (tā), meaning 'she', has become an 'Option B' that requires special designation.
This is just like those scissors designed only for right-handed people: it's not intentionally trying to exclude anyone, but it certainly makes the other half of the population feel 'non-mainstream' and 'requiring additional explanation'.
Language Doesn't Just Describe the World; It Shapes It
You might say: "This is just a habit, is it really that important?"
It is very important. Because language isn't just a tool for communication; it also quietly shapes our way of thinking. The words we use determine what kind of world we are able to see.
If, in our language, words representing strength, wisdom, and authority always default to pointing towards males, then subconsciously, we will associate these qualities more with men. Women's achievements and existence then become blurred, or even 'invisible'.
This is like an old city map that only shows a few main roads from decades ago. Using this map, you could, of course, find your way, but all the newly built communities, underground lines, and wonderful alleyways would be invisible to you.
Our world has changed a long time ago. Women, just like men, are excelling and making significant contributions in all walks of life. Our social identities are also far richer than just 'he' or 'she'. Yet this 'map' of our language is updating far too slowly.
Give Our Language a 'System Upgrade'
So what should we do? We can't just throw away language and start over, can we?
Of course not. We don't need to discard the entire city; we just need to update that old map.
Just as we've started designing special scissors and tools for left-handed people, we can also consciously 'upgrade' our linguistic tools to make them more precise, more inclusive, and better able to reflect the real world.
1. Make the 'invisible' visible. When you know the other person is female, feel free to use terms like '女演员' (nǚ yǎnyuán, 'female actor' or 'actress'), '女老板' (nǚ lǎobǎn, 'female boss'), or '女创始人' (nǚ chuàngshǐrén, 'female founder'). This isn't about making them 'special'; it's about acknowledging and celebrating the fact that, yes, they are present in these important roles.
2. Use more inclusive expressions. When you're unsure of the gender or want to include everyone, use more neutral terms. For instance, use '各位' (gèwèi) or '大家' (dàjiā), both meaning 'everyone', instead of '先生们' (xiānshēngmen, 'gentlemen'). Similarly, use 'firefighter' or 'healthcare professional' to describe a group, rather than gendered terms.
This isn't about 'political correctness'; it's about 'precision'. It's like upgrading a phone's operating system from iOS 10 to iOS 17 – not to be fashionable, but to make it more user-friendly, more powerful, and capable of keeping pace with the times.
Every time we choose a more inclusive word, we are adding new details to our mental 'map', making those formerly overlooked corners clear and visible.
Beyond Language: Seeing a Bigger World
When we shift our gaze from our immediate surroundings to the world, this 'upgrade' of language becomes even more crucial.
When communicating with people from different cultural backgrounds, we are not just translating words; we are also crossing the boundaries of thought. You will discover that different languages conceal entirely different 'default settings' and ways of viewing the world.
To truly understand one another, literal translation alone is far from enough. We need a tool that can genuinely understand culture and context, helping us break down barriers and build sincere connections.
This is precisely the significance of a tool like Intent. It's not just a chat app; its AI translation feature can help you understand the subtle cultural nuances behind language, enabling you to have deep and heartfelt conversations with anyone, anywhere in the world.
Ultimately, whether we are upgrading our own native language or crossing borders to understand another, we are all pursuing the same goal:
To see a more authentic, more complete world, with a broader perspective.
And all of this can start by changing a single word we speak.