Some Thoughts on Bible Translation Issues

In the comments of the last post a reader asked:

I’d like to pose a question. The ESV and some other “essentially [literal]” bible translations use [exclusively masculine] nouns and pronouns in [passages] that refer to both men and women. I’ve heard proponents for these translations say women should read these passages keeping in mind they’re included in this masculine language. I always find myself mentally editing because that’s not the way we use English anymore.

Here’s the big question. Do men really stop and mentally include their wives, daughters and sisters when they read those passages about men and sons and brothers?