what's in the name

 Well tomorrow is Administrative Assistants Day. For those of us that haven't woke up yet, secretary's day. A day in the past when the boss got to sexually harass his secretary. It was indeed a celebration. Flowers and chocolates all the stereotypical items and cards filled with innuendo. It's interesting to note that the Professional Secretaries Association created the day in 1952. It was simply secretaries' day. In 1981 that was changed to Professional Secretaries Day, I suppose to separate the amateur secretaries, the ones not belonging to the association. But in 2001 it was changed once again to Administrative Professionals Day to be more inclusive and remove any gender confusion. Yes, guys can be secretaries too! Well, they can be administrative assistants. I told my wife about this this morning, and she thought flight attendants were still called a stewardess! I checked a few facts and discovered this whole week is professional administrator week! I wasn't aware an entire week was celebrated. Guess it is the same as those that celebrate their birthday week or some the entire month! 

 All of that came to mind I suppose because of the recent interest in pronouns. Apparently, pronouns are becoming optional, you get to select which one's others must use when referring to you. Changing the identifier because certain pronouns imply certain identities. Just like being called a secretary implies you are a female, if you identify as a female that is, otherwise it is just sexist! I guess male secretaries were uncomfortable with that title and figured being an assistant was better. Later they decided to add professional to that title, to bolster their role. Now just to figure a way to remove assistant and the transformation will be complete.

 There does remain problems within this system of changing names around. A ballerina is always a female. But what do you call the guys? Well, I looked that up and found there are several names. Thing is, every one of them is gender specific. In America the accepted term is, male ballet dancer. But what if that male identifies as a female? Do you then call him a ballerina? I couldn't find an answer to that one. I guess we have to fall back on the default. Should he get to choose the title or pronoun of his/her preference? Interesting to note is the top three highest paid ballet dancers in the world are men! Guess there isn't equality in the ballet world! 

 When I was in the Navy they began changing the names around. Many became specialists. A person that operated the radar systems was called, a radar man. That was changed to operation specialist! The guys tending the boilers where called, Boiler Tenders, I know, but today they are boiler technicians. Shipfitters became hull technicians. I never heard an explanation for any of that, I can only assume it was important to somebody. Maybe it had something to do with gender identity? It was about the same time as allowing women on ships, bad luck as any sailor knows. During my time in the Navy we weren't calling each other "mate" that would have been just weird. That's in the movies. So cliche you would have been laughed off the ship. Which, by the way, is always a boat. 

 So don't forget your administrative professional tomorrow. I have never worked in that capacity or been in an office environment. I wonder if the guy secretaries, err administrative professionals, get gifts from their bosses? How does that work? And what if the boss is a woman, does she give gifts to the guys and the girls? I guess it would have to be gift cards all around, everyone likes money no matter how you identify yourself. A generic card with a gift certificate perhaps? But how to address that person? Mr. Mrs. Ms other? I don't know. Now a married woman can be called Ms. or Mrs. it's her choice. But a guy is always Mister. Shouldn't there be something different to indicate whether a guy is married or not? Or at least something to indicate what he identifies as? Something to signal others so they aren't just guessing or confused? That could lead to choosing the wrong pronoun, that is the right pronoun, but the person hasn't chosen that pronoun to be identified with. Maybe they should just wear a name tag with their preferred pronoun on it. I'm a Ms. Mrs. Mister or something else. Or maybe just use the old gender neutral greeting, Hello. Better check with the Administrative Professional on that. That is a part of their job, choosing the correct salutation. To whom it may concern,  Sir or Maam, do we still use maam? I feel like maam has gone the way of spinster. Unless you are in the south. Whatever you do don't trust your eyes, you may not be seeing what you think you see. Wait until you are told what to say.