When did "actresses" become "actors"?

[JoeM]

Seems like there is a unified job title these days for thespians, male and female, when they talk about themselves on TV. Was wondering what the story behind dropping the term "actress" was?

[MacMagus]

When did Sky Girls and Air Hostesses become Flight Attendants?

[elmo3]

About the same time you stopped making the distinction between "doctor" and "female doctor".

[mediumcool]

Ahhhhhh, the long-forgotten "aviatrix" springs to mind!

http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96jul/earhart.html

http://www.aviatrix.com/

Dominatrix?

[deckeda]

[quote JoeM]Seems like there is a unified job title these days for thespians, male and female, when they talk about themselves on TV. Was wondering what the story behind dropping the term "actress" was?
"Actor" is a more formal term to encompass the profession. It's similar to when speaking about "mankind" --- women are still included in the term.

You'd refer to a single female as actress, and a group of females as actresses, but a group of actors and actresses as actors.

[jimbrady]

I support the egalitarian motives in questioning established language constructs, BUT...

Then they also need to eliminate differentiation by gender in the Academy Awards. One prize in each category, may the best man or woman win.

[JoeM]

[quote deckeda]...You'd refer to a single female as actress, and a group of females as actresses, but a group of actors and actresses as actors.
Females on most talk shows I see have been referring to themselves as actors for quite some time now so I would think your statement isn't correct in the industry anymore yet I can't seem to recall ever reading or hearing anything about when and why the change in reference occured.

[Lux Interior]

They would just break it down into "Best Female Actor" and "Best Male Actor".

[deckeda]

[quote JoeM]
Females on most talk shows I see have been referring to themselves as actors for quite some time now so I would think your statement isn't correct
What I said doesn't apply to talk shows. Sorry, forgot to mention that part.

[Chupa Chupa]

Actresses became actors about the same time taxes became "investments," teen age cashiers became "associates," and department chairmen and chairwomen became plain old chairs (no idea if they graduated from Ikea or Baker.)