Alphabetical Entries: P
193 entries found.
this is an acceptable term to refer to a person from any of the hundreds of Pacific Islands, which lie in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in a region traditionally known as Oceania. It is always preferable, however, to be as specific as possible (New Caledonian, Fijian). In the U.S., someone with Pacific Island ancestry is called Asian Pacific American. See also Asian, Asian American.
a derogatory shortening of "Patrick," "Paddy" is considered offensive by the Irish.
a "pagan" (from the Latin for a rural dweller) is usually identified by negatives; the first three definitions in the American Heritage Dictionary are: one who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew; one who has no religion; a non-Christian. The term also implies someone hedonistic, heathenish, and irreligious. Instead of the poorly understood "pagan," identify the person by the precise belief system: polytheist, animist, Buddhist, etc. Many non-Muslim, non-Jewish, and non-Christian religions are deeply spiritual. Use only when someone self-identifies as a pagan. Neopaganism is an umbrella term for religious or spiritual movements that reconstruct pagan belief systems for contemporary believers. Paganism and Neopaganism have nothing to do with Satanism. Many Wiccans and other Neopagans refer to themselves simply as "Pagans." Because the word has many different meanings—some quite negative—the term "Neopagan" is less ambiguous. But call people what they want to be called.
from the Romany for "brother" or "friend," "pal" is more often used of boys/men, but is also correctly used of girls/women.
one of the 12 knights of Charlemagne's court, historically male; for an outstanding champion of a cause, a paladin could be either sex.
this court-ordered allowance may be made to either member of a former relationship.
woman or man.
the majority of our sex-linked metaphors, expressions, and figures are male-based; female-based ones, like this one, are often negative. However, the familiar and evocative "Pandora's box" is probably the best choice for this meaning. If you need sex-neutral alternatives, consider opening a can of worms, the curiosity that killed the cat, unforeseen consequences, the unknown, mischief, the ills that flesh is heir to, machinations of the devil, all hell breaking loose.
those who are attracted to others without regard to their sex, gender identity, or gender expression are considered pansexual or omnisexual.
Tohono O'odham Nation. The Tohono O'odham people reside primarily in the Sonoran Desert of the southwest U.S. and northwest Mexico. "Tohono O'odham" means "People of the Desert" whereas the rejected name was given to them by conquistadores who heard their enemies calling them "Papago" ("tepary-bean eater").
newspaper/paper carrier/deliverer, news carrier, newspaper vendor; paperboy and papergirl (if sex-specificity is necessary and if the carriers are under the age of 13 or 14).
derogatory term for Roman Catholics.
this is unacceptable when used by non-Indians.
woman or man.
someone with/who has paraplegia. If necessary to mention a disability (and it often isn't), information can be conveyed neutrally without labeling the whole person by something that is only part of their life. Paraplegia is a complete paralysis of the lower half of the body. See "people first" rule. See also disabilities, hemiplegic, quadriplegic.
three recommendations: (1) use "fathers and mothers" or "mothers and fathers" rather than the inclusive "parents," in order to make both sexes visible, and because two parents aren't always the same sex. (2) Do not assume "parent" translates to "mother"; mail on infant care is addressed "Dear Mother" and an ad for an adhesive tape makes "diapering so easy, even Dad can do it." While the reality is that more women than men are active parents, it is also a reality that many more men than before are becoming involved in parenting and should be given the name as well as the game. A step in the right direction: some stores now have diaper-changing counters in both the men's and the women's restrooms. (3) When working with children, do not assume that the child lives with both parents; many children live with only one parent, with a parent and stepparent, with a guardian, with grandparents, in a foster home, or with two parents of the same sex. Teacher David Salmela asks his elementary-school pupils to take notes home to "the adults" at their house. See also babysitter, mother and father.
to mother a child is different from "to father" a child, which is why "to parent" is so useful.
servant. See also cleaning lady/cleaning woman, maid/maidservant.
depending on the denomination, this may be either sex.
emergency abortion, late-term removal of a non-viable fetus, intact dilation and extraction (term used by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology), dilation and evacuation. Partial-birth abortion is not a medical term, but a highly biasing phrase coined by abortion opponents. No medical procedure known as partial-birth abortion exists. If it is necessary to use "partial birth" as part of the title of legislation, it should be preceded by "so-called." See also abortion.
this word is used by many lesbian, gay, and unmarried heterosexual couples to denote the person with whom they are living or to whom they are romantically attached. "Partner" may suggest a business association, but until a better word is found, it is one of the more useful possibilities available today. Other terms in use are companion, longtime companion, and lover. See also boyfriend, girlfriend.
retain as a male term in the context of Turkish or North African political life. However, there is nothing to say you can't use "pasha" metaphorically to describe a powerful or high-ranking official of either sex.
dating to the 18th century, "passing" originally described someone of mixed racial heritage acting as if they were, for example, white. The term expanded to include identities such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and even class. Avoid using the judgmental "passing" unless it is used in quotation marks or is otherwise defensible. Drag queens, bisexual people, transgender people, and others generally do not try to pass as anything but who they are. See also bisexual, cross-dresser, drag queen/drag king, LGBTQIA, race, transgender (adj.)
depending on the particular denomination, a pastor may be either sex.