It seems that Cardiff Metropolitan University is trying to stop lecturers from using phrases they deem sexist; such as ‘right-hand man’, ‘gentleman’s agreement’, ‘man in the street’, ‘housewife’ and ‘forefathers’ in favour of gender-neutral terms.
(The following gender-neutral terms have been suggested:-
Forefathers – Forebears
Gentleman’s agreement – Agreement based on trust.
Girls (for adults) – Women
Housewife – Homemaker
Manpower – Labour force / Human resources
Man / Mankind – Humanity
Man-made – Artificial
Man in the street / common man – Average citizen
Right-hand man – Chief assistant
Sportsmanship – Fairness / Sense of fair play
We will all be ‘sering’ before we know it.)