Hence, the English language is already heavily gender-neutral. But, to make the main point, since English follows basic Latin rules (with exception of conjugations, because we don’t really conjugate anymore), Latin grammar dictates that when referring to a group of people, if the group is entirely male or female, the masculine or feminine was used accordingly. If the group was mixed, however, the masculine is used. Thus, the -man suffix is grammatically correct, and not intended to be sexist. People who find it sexist are just trying to find something to fight about.

It derives from “homonus” which, though translates to English as “man” is better understood as “human” or even “person”. The latin Homonus (mankind) should not be confused with vir (man the gender, where words like “virile” come from). Instead of wasting legislature time, one could just reinstate Latin in the schools so that girls AND boys would actually understand the origins and theory behind their language and society could move to actual problems instead of superficial fights like this that only create needless and profitless division between the sexes, thereby creating more dissidence rather than harmony.

To answer the harm question, you’re right, there isn’t one. It’s just a lack of knowledge about English and Latin.