Words Matter: Why Pro Remodeler Is Not Using "Master Bedroom" Anymore

Get inside the brains of The Weekly editors with this panel on the "master bedroom" updates in the Pro Remodeler, Pro Builder, and PRODUCTS style guides. The editors also discuss how the building and remodeling industries are rethinking business procedures and naming conventions in light of cultural shifts. Watch the video to learn about the changes, how the editors came to their decisions, and where the line is when considering changing a naming convention. 

Recently, a movement to shift away from the term “master bedroom” has come into play. Earlier this summer, the Houston Association of Realtors swapped the word master for primary after a call with realtors in the area. This is one of the latest instances in the industry’s push to drop the term to eliminate any connotations related to slavery. 

An interesting thing to note about the use of the term master bedroom is that its origins have not been able to be traced back to slavery. Instead, the first instance of use is in a 1928 SEARS catalogue to describe a Dutch colonial home. But the connotations surrounding the phrase–and what some see as a sexist undertones as well–have been enough to spark debate throughout the industry.

Watch the full Weekly here.