Washington state is in the process of changing the language in state law to make it more gender neutral. Policemen are now police officers, for instance, and freshmen will become first-year students. Supporters say the change is needed because language matters. Critics say the changes are a waste of money. Ross Reynolds interviews University of Washington Sociolinguist Crispin Thurlow, and we take your phone calls.
Today Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta will announce the military’s plan to allow women to serve in combat roles. It’s a move that could open up roughly a quarter million jobs for women in the military. Do you think women should serve in combat roles? Ross Reynolds hears your feedback today on The Conversation.
Naomi Wolf, author of "The Beauty Myth," has written a cultural and scientific history of the intersection of sexuality and creativity. She joins us to talk about "Vagina: A New Biography."
