***** NOT A TEACHER *****
Hello, Nabih:
Here in the United States, people now use gender-neutral nouns. (It is considered discourteous to use gender-specific nouns.)
Here are a few examples:
waiter / waitress. NOW: server.
actor / actress. NOW: actor.
mailman. NOW: letter carrier.
steward / stewardess. NOW: flight attendant.
fireman. NOW: firefighter.
poet / poetess. NOW: poet.
host / hostess. NOW: host.
NOTES:
1. Many (most?) women -- in my opinion -- would NOT feel insulted if you referred to them as a "waitress," "actress," or "hostess," but I am 99% sure that they WOULD be very upset (unhappy) if you referred to them as a "stewardess" or "poetess."
2. Many nouns in English are already gender-neutral. E.g., [for example] president, teacher, plumber, clerk [sales associate], soldier, etc.
James