[gender-it] 'master-slave' computer terminology questioned
- From: Irina Aristarkhova <uspia@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: gender-it@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, mxt_core@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 21:17:51 +0800
Hi all,
I thought this might be of interest to our groups.
Regards,
Irina
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/master.term.reut/index.html
'Master' and 'slave' computer labels unacceptable, officials say
Wednesday, November 26, 2003 Posted: 11:33 AM EST (1633 GMT)
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LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Los Angeles officials have asked=20
that manufacturers, suppliers and contractors stop using the terms=20
"master" and "slave" on computer equipment, saying such terms are=20
unacceptable and offensive.
The request -- which has some suppliers furious and others busy=20
re-labeling components -- came after an unidentified worker spotted a=20
videotape machine carrying devices labeled "master" and "slave" and=20
filed a discrimination complaint with the county's Office of Affirmative=20=
Action Compliance.
In the computer industry, "master" and "slave" are used to refer to=20
primary and secondary hard disk drives. The terms are also used in other=20=
industries.
"Based on the cultural diversity and sensitivity of Los Angeles County,=20=
this is not an acceptable identification label," Joe Sandoval, division=20=
manager of purchasing and contract services, said in a memo sent to=20
County vendors.
"We would request that each manufacturer, supplier and contractor=20
review, identify and remove/change any identification or labeling of=20
equipment components that could be interpreted as discriminatory or=20
offensive in nature," Sandoval said in the memo, which was distributed=20=
last week and made available to Reuters.
The memo did not include any suggestions for alternative labels.
Dennis Tafoya, director of the affirmative action office, said in a=20
separate memo that an "exhaustive search" had been undertaken to find=20
all such labels and replace them with more "appropriate" ones. A form=20
was sent to all departments to identify equipment carrying the labels=20
"master" and "slave" or any other offensive terms.
Faced with an avalanche of complaints from vendors and the general=20
public, Sandoval told Reuters in an interview that his memo was intended=20=
as "nothing more than a request" and not an ultimatum or policy change.
"I do understand that this term has been an industry standard for years=20=
and years and this is nothing more than a plea to vendors to see what=20
they can do," he said. "It appears that some folks have taken this a=20
little too literally."
Sandoval said that he had already rejected a suggestion that the county=20=
stop buying all equipment carrying the "master" and "slave" labels and=20=
had no intention of enforcing a ban on such terms with suppliers.
"But we are culturally sensitive and we have 90,000 employees," he said.=20=
"We have to take these things seriously."
Sandoval added that in addition to the e-mails he's received "telling me=20=
how stupid I am and how I should be fired" he has gotten a positive=20
response from some companies willing to reexamine their labels.
In June, the Los Angeles city council unanimously passed a law requiring=20=
that any companies doing business with the city disclose profits they=20
may have made from slavery in the 19th Century. In 2000, the council=20
supported federal legislation seeking reparations for descendants of=20
slaves.
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