‘Male’ and ‘female’ plugs and connectors – gendered language for the ends of garden hoses, electrical cords and pipe fittings sparks debate
Terms that are direct analogs to sexual intercourse are widely used to describe connector ends, but the language is evolving away from those problematic words.
The terms "male" and "female" used to describe connector ends, such as those on garden hoses, electrical cords, and pipe fittings, have sparked a debate over the use of gendered language. Professionals in various industries argue that these terms are inappropriate analogies to sexual intercourse and are exclusionary due to their assumption of binary gender.
However, gender and sex are not synonymous, and decades of research have made this clear. Editors specializing in technical communication were surveyed about their stance on using male and female for connector ends in sentences like "Insert the male connector into the female connector once the nut is fully tightened." The responses were divided, with ten editors maintaining the terms, nine asking the author about their use, and eight suggesting replacements such as "plug" or "socket."
This reflects the varied treatment of "male" and "female" in style guides, with some prohibiting their usage and others recommending alternatives.
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