I can't believe that this is bothering people. So a small change is made to balence things out a bit (which are still far too much in favour of men) boo frickin hoo.
There are more important problems in life, REAL PROBLEMS! Such as making sure that when someone makes you a cup of tea that they dont make it piss weak.
Very well said Gaffers!!
I don't believe it's bothering people either. A ship is, and always has been, 'she'.
Not in French. Bateau, Navire, Vaisseau, Porte-avions all masculin words. The only exception is Chaloupe which is often used to describe a launch (small boat of a larger ship) or something small and flat-bottomed.
Make of that what you will.
People are obviously upset, otherwise we'd be talking about something much more important.
Coincidentally, the practice of using female names is thought to derive from not wanting to upset 'mother' nature, a Godess of Greek/Roman origin. I can't remember if you were athiest or agnostic STEMO.