Sexist language that I personally cannot stand

[planetc]

20. But "history" has often been precisely "*his* story"

The main themes of historical texts have often been drawn from the records of the deeds and accomplishments of men--generals, kings, presidents, captains of industry. ("What was Napoleon up to? Lots, until the Duke of Wellington stopped him at Waterloo.&quot The implied lesson is that the only significant deeds are done by men, the only significant thoughts are thought by men. Only in the last forty or fifty years, I think, have progressive historians been writing texts that report on groups of people like farmers, trade unionists, laborers, small businesspeople. This trend in historical thinking is a step in the right direction, but still leaves half of humanity out of its focus.

Thus, "her story" is a neat coinage that suggests that, a) since we have heard lots of *his*tory, b) it's time to consider some herstory. And every time we point to the accomplishments of Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren, et al., we tweak the contemporary record in the direction we want it to go--a recognition that women can and do achieve great things.