2007-05-11 23:04:34 · 11 answers · asked by jayjesjc 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
To avoid the politically correct term of personhole.
2007-05-15 22:16:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because only men were plumbers of electricians in the past. 100 years ago we had covered holes in the streets but women were not allowed out of the house in Pants. Can you imagine a woman a hundred years ago going down a manhole with her dress and all that went with it back then?
2007-05-12 06:14:54 · answer #2 · answered by Patrick S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it goes back to the wooden sailing ship days, and transferred over to the manholes we have today. Called manholes because it was bad luck for a woman to be on a ship. Why are they round?????????(It is the only shape that it is impossible to drop the top into.
2007-05-12 06:13:59 · answer #3 · answered by dadforfive 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For centuries "man" or "mankind" represented the whole of the human race in the same way that "horses" can mean ALL sexes and ages of horses (mares, foals, stallions)...although "horse" is synonymous with "stallion". "Chickens" means hens, biddies and roosters. Using "man" or "mankind" was not a deliberate slap at women; it was just English usage. Thus you have manholes, postmen, firemen, salesmen, etc.
"Man," "men," or "he" was the generic form. When someone said "women" they meant a specific subset of mankind. I don't think anyone really questioned this convention until recently.
2007-05-12 08:21:42 · answer #4 · answered by angelharp7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably because it was predominantly males who worked the road crews...but I'm sure there's a cute historical reference to be found in archives somewhere...I bet if you questioned some of the DOT workers you may come up with some fun answers to this.
I love the question "Why do we park in a driveway and drive on a parkway?" We have such a colorful language, don't we???
2007-05-12 06:14:53 · answer #5 · answered by MsET 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's nothing to do with sexism.
Since it always used to be, and mainly still is, the men that used to get stuck with the manual labour jobs (like mining and sewer maintenance etc), it was only men that ever had the unfortunate task of climbing down the hole.
Therefore MAN-hole.
Why call it a women-hole or girl-hole or dog-hole? None of them ever used to have to use it.
2007-05-12 06:14:11 · answer #6 · answered by Adam L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is not manhole and mainhole
2007-05-12 07:29:30 · answer #7 · answered by victoria 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the same reason an asshole is called an asshole. They dont call em leg holes or arm holes.
2007-05-15 19:28:57 · answer #8 · answered by bnbn_e2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think about it: if they were called a "girlholes" or a "womanholes" it would conjure images quite different from what they actually are.
2007-05-12 06:09:11 · answer #9 · answered by Voodoid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T GET AN ANSWER ? JUMP IN IT ?
2007-05-12 06:18:03 · answer #10 · answered by 10-T3 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋