Perry, we've been through this before a few times. You are of course entitled to your opinion. I am entitled to disagree.

I am still rather convinced that one of the reasons more men don't dance the role that ends up on the right at the end of a swing is because it's called the "lady's" role, and to a lesser degree the reason more women don't dance the role that ends up on the left regularly is because they're "supposed" to dance the "ladies'" role. And I am equally convinced that both gents and ladies would be better dancers if they danced the"other" role more often, and that many are discouraged from doing so due to the nomenclature (even if not on a conscious level). For that matter,it also might discourage some heterosexually-inclined male creepers because dancing the "gents'" role would not guarantee that you only get ladies in your arms for every swing.

It is a community dance; any member can take any role, and in my opinion weighing it down with gendered language,while traditional, is rather unhelpful (much like calling 1'sand 2's "actives" and "inactives" in a balanced dance where being a 1 or a 2 doesn't affect how much you dance, per the choreography). Just as you are entitled to your opinion, I am entitled to mine. When you start up your contra blog, you may of course quibble with whatever nomenclature you wish. :-)

Bob,

To which Andrew do you refer (last name/location)?

I am intrigued by the L/R nomenclature (although I wonder if some folks might take "L" to mean "lady").

Do tell! :)