Alphabetical Entries: S

this grammatically masculine French word is used for both sexes in French and in English.

depending on the denomination, a sacristan may be either sex.

this ought to be "safer sex," since 100% safe sex is only no sex at all. When using "safe sex," define terms and spell out relative margins of "safety."

always a man; a woman is a "memsahib."

salesclerk, clerk, sales associate/rep/agent/representative/broker/manager, floor assistant, agent, seller, door-to-door seller, canvasser, commercial traveler, vendor, dealer, marketer, merchant, retailer, wholesaler, trader, solicitor, shop assistant, peddler. These terms are not interchangeable: "salesclerk" is appropriate for a retail store employee, while "sales representative" describes someone employed by a large manufacturing company who is a combination business manager, product specialist, and sales trainer. For "salesmen," use plurals of the alternatives given as well as sales force/staff/personnel, salespeople.

sales ability/expertise/technique/skill, high sales potential, selling ability; vendorship, sales record; hucksterism.

when you know the person's name but not their sex or social title, write Dear Lane Busby; when you don't have a name, either address yourself to the company (Dear Gates-Porter) or to a job title (Dear Credit Manager) or to a role (Dear Neighbor). The trend in non-personal letters is toward replacing the salutation with a subject line (Re: enclosed contract). For more information and lists of salutation possibilities, see the Writing Guidelines.

salvage worker/inspector/repairer, salvager, parts salvager.

man or woman.

possibly from a Hausan personal name meaning "second son," Sambo was popularized by Helen Bannerman's 1899 book, The Story of Little Black Sambo, in which a clever boy outwits some determined tigers. Republished in 2003 with new illustrations to replace the condescending originals, the book reignited a debate over its ethnic stereotypes. On one level, it is a charming story (and was even chosen as one of the top 40 children's books by Kirkus Reviews, on their 2003 Editor's Choice List), but it's been called racist for its stereotypical characters and derogatory names (Sambo's parents are Mumbo and Jumbo). Some say no amount of revision can sanitize the pejorative "Sambo," which dates to the mid-19th century (Irving Lewis Allen, Unkind Words). As the lowercased "sambo" referred to a happy black slave, it should never be used to refer to someone.

this adjective is used (1) to refer to situations that include only one sex (same-sex school, same-sex friends), and (2) as an inclusive adjective meaning lesbian or gay (same-sex couples, same-sex dating).

see marriage.

this member of the historical Japanese warrior class was always a man.

see anti-Arabism.

derived from an old European tale, the Sandman is harmless enough in himself; the problem is that so many of his ilk are male (Santa Claus, Jack Frost) and small children are especially susceptible to the subliminal messages about maleness and femaleness in a world overrun with "he"s. If you're interested in establishing your own terms, consider Sandy Eyes, the sleep/sand fairy, sand sprinkler, the sleep genie.

sanitation worker/engineer.

literally, "third generation," this acceptable term is used for the U.S.-born grandchild of Japanese immigrants to the U.S. Plural is Sansei or Sanseis. See also Issei, Kibei, Nisei, Yonsei.

Father Christmas, Père Noel, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, and Santa Claus are better left as they are, even with the acknowledgment that these male figures reinforce the cultural male-as-norm system. Mrs. Claus goes largely unrecognized; she doesn't even have a first name. There is nothing inherently wrong with a male Santa Claus; the problem is that nearly every cultural icon of this magnitude is male. (Various Santa societies have debated opening its membership to female Santas—Mrs. Claus or Mother Christmas.) Those interested in promoting female as well as male heroes could introduce Befana, or La Befana, the Italian version of Santa Claus, who carries a cane and a bell and traditionally drops down the chimney on the twelfth night of Christmas.

acceptable term meaning of or relating to lesbianism.

because these are used only of girls and women, you may want to consider instead impudent, insolent, mouthy, bold, nervy, forward.

Satan/it.

by definition, a satyr is male. If you want sex-neutral alternatives, consider libertine, bedhopper, swinger, lover, seducer. See also nymphomaniac.

this highly ethnocentric term has been used to justify invading, dispossessing, and subjugating entire populations. In the case of Native Americans, their manner of defending themselves was called "savage" and Indian victories were called "massacres" while unprovoked attacks and indiscriminate killings of Indians were simply called "victories"); "any attempt to evaluate war as 'civilized' or 'savage' usually depends on which side one is on" (Thomas R. Frazier, ed., The Underside of American History). Slavery was made possible by labeling kidnapped Africans "savages." See also "discovery" of America, heathen, illiterate, massacre, pagan/neopagan, primitive.

the French word is grammatically masculine but is used in French and English for both sexes. See also idiot savant.

the first meaning of "scalper" is "one (especially a Native American) who removes scalps" (The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed.). The second meaning refers to selling tickets (or stocks) for higher (or lower) prices than usual. The term is objectionable, even though users don't associate it consciously with Indians; if you're an American Indian, however, it bites. There is currently no easily recognized equivalent. Write when you find one. Until then, experiment with combinations like ticket shark/sharp/hustler/runner, stock rustler (related by marriage to cattle rustlers).