Looking at Language

Re “Thanksgiving Day Marks American Spunk” (by Marshall Berges, Nov. 27), it is good for all to know how important and how much the position of women contributed to the making of this nation.

However, suffragette is not a word. It was a “made-up” term/word by men to make fun of the women/suffragists so determined in their causes. Your text brought forth to readers the importance of Sarah Josepha Hale in her determination to set aside the Thursday for celebration and thank you, but when you write “suffragette,” this not only diminishes the importance of the holiday, but certainly takes away the importance of the woman.

The language is how we are all perceived . . . the language must be changed so that women are viewed as human beings in quest of their lives.

NATALIE THOMAS

San Francisco