Businessperson

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Look up businessperson, businessman, businesswoman in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

A businessperson (also businessman or businesswoman) is someone who is employed at usually a profit-oriented enterprise, or more specifically, someone who is involved in the management (at any level) of a company. The term businessperson almost always refers to someone with a "white collar" occupation.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Word use

Businessperson is used in place of the words businessman or businesswoman to avoid sexism and to avoid unnecessarily perpetuating stereotypes if used generically.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

The terms businessman or businesswoman are sometimes used for gender specificity.[9][10] However, the term businessperson, with the "-person" suffix, is noted to be more commonly used today than in the past.[11][12][13]

[edit] Dress code

Further information: Social aspects of clothing and Business attire

Male businesspeople typically wear standard business attire consisting of a suit with collar shirt and necktie. However, this may vary among companies and often depends on local business culture. In some countries, especially in Western countries like the U.S., business casual is appropriate for businessmen to wear and neckties can be left out. In several other countries, however, notably many East Asian countries, businessmen are more formally dressed and wear conservative suits with a necktie.

Female businesspeople's apparel has gone over many changes. Dresses and suits are in the norm today.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Random House (2005). Sensitive Language. Random House, Inc.. Retrieved on 11 December 2006.
  2. ^ Malaspina University-College (2005). Communications & Public Relations. Malaspina University-College Communications & Public Relations. Retrieved on 7 January 2007.
  3. ^ University of Windsor (1993). University of Windsor - Employment Equity - Language Equity Guide. University of Windsor Employment Equity Office. Retrieved on 7 January 2007.
  4. ^ Northeastern University (2007). Messaging Standards > Editorial Style Guide. Northeastern University. Retrieved on 7 January 2007.
  5. ^ Capilano College (2006). Capilano College Style Guide. Capilano College. Retrieved on 7 January 2007.
  6. ^ Ferguson, Chantelle (January 2004). "Sexist Language Persists in the EFL Classroom". English Teaching Forum 42 (1): 36-41. 
  7. ^ Vaileanu, Cristina (2006). Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines for UNDP Moldova. United Nations Development Program, Republic of Moldova. Retrieved on 7 January 2007.
  8. ^ AusInfo (2001). Non-discriminatory language. Australian Government Department of Finance and Administration . Retrieved on 7 January 2007.
  9. ^ University of Windsor (2003). Style Manual for Lafayette College. Lafayette College, Office of Public Information. Retrieved on 7 January 2007.
  10. ^ The American Heritage Book of English Usage (1996). § 23. -man compounds. 5. Gender. The American Heritage Book of English Usage. 1996. Bartleby.com. Retrieved on 7 January 2007.
  11. ^ Random House, Inc. (2006). -person. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1).. Retrieved on 29 May 2007.
  12. ^ Random House, Inc. (2006). -man. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1).. Retrieved on 29 May 2007.
  13. ^ Random House, Inc. (2006). -woman. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1).. Retrieved on 29 May 2007.