It seems to me that the people who complain so much about their spell-checkers have never really learned how to use them.

Hille, I don't know what software you're using, but in Microsoft Word 97, you can click "Tools," then "Options," then "Spelling and Grammar," then "Settings," then scroll down until you see "Style – Gender Specific Words." Then UNCHECK this box, and click "OK" and it will never challenge your use of gender-specific words again. There are lots of other options that can be changed in the same way.