I imagine that the conversation must be much more complex in MWSD given the tradition of patter.  As I understand it, oftentimes the decision of which term to label each role is determined by what might best rhyme with the following call, or by how many syllables you have time to say.

While it's probably a much more ambitious endeavor -- and one which I'm sure as a contra dance caller I have very little grasp of -- I would say that many MWSD communities are ready to handle a role-term change, but that it would take exceedingly creative and experienced callers within that tradition to help determine what those might look like.

Good luck!  
Angela

On Mon, Sep 26, 2016 at 7:19 PM, Jeremy Child via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi

This is for the MWSD callers amongst you.

There has been much discussion on this group about the terms used for the two roles in contra dance.  I do not propose to resurrect that here, I mention it to emphasise that many feel the terms used to be important, and that we should be moving away from any gender connotation in them.

MWSD uses Ladies, Gents, Men, Women, Girls, Boys - all highly gendered.  Is it time we changed these?  If so, how?  In theory with Callerlab it will be easier, but I suspect they would strongly resist such a change, since the "maleness" and "femaleness" of the roles (e.g. skirt work) is such a fundamental part of what MWSD is.

Thoughts?

(Apologies to those to whom this is all gibberish)

Jeremy Child
www.barndancecaller.net
www.genderfreedance.net

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