[quote name=\'whoserman\' date=\'Jan 12 2004, 06:20 PM\'][quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'Jan 12 2004, 12:46 AM\'] [quote name=\'Dsmith\' date=\'Jan 12 2004, 01:22 AM\']
You are all wrong. To be technically correct, there have been no female gameshow hosts. They are
hostesses. (sp)
[/quote]
Nope. The word is gender neutral in English. [/quote]
I think the
proper way to address a femcee is by calling her a hostess. Evidence by Charlie O's speil from WoF in the early- to mid-90s. "And now here is your host and hostess, Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"[/quote]
The term "hostess", like "actress" or "heroine", is an affected term, created to endorse patriarchal principles.
A "host" is much like a "manager". A female who manages a business can reasonably be called a "manager" or a "manageress", but in a situation where there is a male manager, a female who is made a "manageress" is often an "assistant manager". This is much the same way that Pat is a "host" and Vanna is a "hostess".
Much the same way that a Queen can be a soverign ruler, but (at least in the Commonwealth system) if there is a King and a Queen, the King is the ruler, the Queen is given that courtesy title.
A woman hosts the show, she is the central presenter and comunicates directly with the audience... she performs host duties and therefore deserves the full title.
Cherry "not a feminist, just an English major" Pizza
(you lot DO know I'm male, right?)