[chromaform]

Why not simply use a neutral descriptor instead of a gendered one? If it is true that the author is as committed to the female pronoun as you suggest he is, isn't it therefore implied that he would only encourage such thoughtfulness at the intersection of language, gender, perception, failure, objectification and technology?

[pmarca]

So "it"?

[mindcrime]

Why not simply use a neutral descriptor instead of a gendered one?

Because English doesn't really have gender-neutral, singular pronouns? You're down to artificial sounding language full of "one" and "they" and "their" or using invented pronouns that aren't in widespread use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-specific_and_gender-neut...