[Kronopath]

Preemptive apologies for potentially stepping in a land mine, but… "traditionally" under what tradition?

Typically in older literature "he" has been used as the neutral pronoun when gender is unknown or unimportant. I've seen a more recent movement towards use of "she", but I don't think I'd say it's "traditional". Am I missing something?

[chrismeller]

Ok... I've seen a lot of publications go with "she" (as in ships, inanimate objects, etc.), but I couldn't possibly care enough to argue.

The Chicago Manual of Style does say "he" (though they prefer "he or she").

[Kronopath]

Fair enough. I've seen "she" used for ships and the like as well, though I've always found that a little sexist myself, as if it were equating women with inanimate objects. In the end I don't care much either, I was just wondering, since I have seen some more recent articles and publications move towards using "she" as a generic pronoun, but I've always attributed that to the influence from modern feminist movements.

My personal preference is for singular "they", for what it's worth.