close vs closely

[Philly]

I don't see that language as sexist. I'd venture a guess that it simply reflects search parameters that were based on the original question.

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by Philly

I don't see that language as sexist. I'd venture a guess that it simply reflects search parameters that were based on the original question.

True but language and thought are linked which of course we are not even conscious of.

[queenbu]

I'm sure that 'she held him closely' would refer to a mother and her son.

[Casiopea]

What? No one bothered to even look?

Ex: Gazing on Jesus' face, knowing, in the early morning hours as she held him closely,...

Ex: Although Pearl was not very talkative with Robert, she held him closely....

Ex: She held him closely, tightly, and he could smell the faint scent of her perfume...

There are about 17,000 more.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim

It is interesting Casi to see all the examples you quoted are:
"He held her" and NOT "she held him"
But maybe I was made a bit too sensitive to sexist language because of "Gender Studies" a branch of linguistics I am interested in.

To add to the potentially sexist debate, I note that in all Casi's examples there's an element of protectiveness; but a mother might hold 'her children closely to her' - which supports the closely/protective hypothesis.

[Casiopea]

Firstly, it shouldn't be an issue at all. The first batch of examples were based on the example "He held her closely" given in post #1. If it had have been "She held him closely" I would have found examples for that one. Second, it's common for posters to disagree with a quoted example, especially if the that example looks different from the one given. Third, who cares who held who and for what reason. A huggin's a huggin'. Language is culture; Who cares who's doing the holding; being held is a good thing. Lastly, of the number of hits on Google, we can't be sure (unless we take the time to check - which I did) what percentage of all the hers refers to humans. This one is possible, right?

Ex: He held her closely. Lassie, his dog of 10 years, died in his arms that night.

Or, for that matter, what percentage of the he examples is and is not about a 'protective nature'. (Ahem, last time I checked, males can be just as protective as females. What's the last action flick you saw. ) About the female side of things. Look up "she held him closely" and you'll find examples like this one.

Ex: When she was finally satiated, when the hormonal rush had subsided, she held him closely, and whispered new commands in his ear. ...

All the best.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

... Second, it's common for posters to disagree with a quoted example, especially if the that example looks different from the one given....

Sorry if I put anyone's nose out of joint. There was a page break after your first set of examples:

Ex: Again he held her closely in his arms. "And I've sure got you, Dede."
Ex: He held her closely and rocked her from side to side in his arms,....
Ex: His arm held her closely, fear vanished,....
Ex: He lifted her weak, trembling body to a sitting position and held her closely, tightly, not really as lovers, but soothingly as if to welcome calm back to....
Ex: Herbert Greyson, who, pale with concentrated rage, held her closely and...

...so that when I replied I was referring to those. I hadn't seen your later post.



b

PS
Strictly, the page-break came after post #10, which had quoted the examples.