Gender-neutral language

Gender-neutral language or gender-inclusive language is language that avoids bias towards a particular sex or social gender. In English, this includes use of nouns that are not gender-specific to refer to roles or professions,[1] formation of phrases in a coequal manner, and discontinuing the blanket use of male terms.[2] For example, the words policeman[3][4] and stewardess[5][6] are gender-specific job titles; the corresponding gender-neutral terms are police officer[7][8] and flight attendant.[9][10] Other gender-specific terms, such as actor and actress, may be replaced by the originally male term; for example, actor used regardless of gender.[11][12][13] Some terms, such as chairman,[14][15] that contain the component -man but have traditionally been used to refer to persons regardless of sex are now seen by some as gender-specific.[16] An example of forming phrases in a coequal manner would be using husband and wife instead of man and wife.[17] Examples of discontinuing the blanket use of male terms in English are referring to those with unknown or indeterminate genders as singular they, he or she, or s/he, and using humans, people, or humankind, instead of man or mankind.[18]

History

The notion that parts of the English language were sexist was brought to mainstream attention in Western English cultures by feminists in the 1970s.[19] Simultaneously, the link between language and ideologies (including traditional gender ideologies) was becoming apparent in the academic field of linguistics.[20] In 1975, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) published a set of guidelines on the use of “non-sexist” language.[21][22] Backlash ensued, as did the debate on whether gender-neutral language ought to be enforced.[22][23] In Britain, feminist Maija S. Blaubergs’ countered eight commonly used oppositional arguments in 1980.[24] In 1983, New South Wales, Australia required the use of they in place of he and she in subsequent laws.[25] In 1985, the Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion (CCSR) passed a motion for all its ensuing publications to include “non-sexist" language.[26] By 1995, academic institutions in Canada and Britain had implemented “non-sexist” language policies.[27][28] More recently, revisions to the Women’s Press publications of The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing and The A–Z of Non-Sexist Language were made to de-radicalize the original works.[28] In 2006, “non-sexist” was challenged: the term refers solely to the absence of sexism.[28] In 2018, the State of New York enacted policy to formally use the gender-neutral terms police officer and firefighter.[25]

Sign with specific suggestions for gender-neutral language use in Spanish.

Terminology and views

General

Historically, the use of masculine pronouns in place of generic was regarded as non-sexist, but various forms of gender-neutral language became a common feature in written and spoken versions of many languages in the late twentieth century. Feminists argue that previously the practice of assigning masculine gender to generic antecedents stemmed from language reflecting "the prejudices of the society in which it evolved, and English evolved through most of its history in a male-centered, patriarchal society."[29] During the 1970s, feminists Casey Miller and Kate Swift created a manual, The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing, on gender neutral language that was set to reform the existing sexist language that was said to exclude and dehumanize women.[30] In 1995, the Women’s Press published The A–Z of Non-Sexist Language, by Margaret Doyle.[31] Both publications were written by American authors, originally without the consideration of the British-English dialect.[31] Many feminist efforts were made to reform the androcentric language.[32] It has become common in some academic and governmental settings to rely on gender-neutral language to convey inclusion of all sexes or genders (gender-inclusive language).[33][34]

Various languages employ different means to achieve gender neutrality:

Other particular issues are also discussed:

Gender marking in job titles
Gender-specific and gender-neutral pronouns

Gender indication

There are different approaches in forming a "gender-neutral language":

Neutralising any reference to gender or sex, like using "they" as a third person singular pronoun instead of "he" or "she", and proscribing words like actress (female actor) and prescribing the use of words like actor for persons of any gender. Although it has generally been accepted in the English language, some argue that using "they" as a singular pronoun is considered grammatically incorrect, but acceptable in informal writing.[35]
Creating alternative gender-neutral pronouns, such as "hir" or "hen" in Swedish.[36]
Indicating the gender by using wordings like "he or she" and "actors and actresses".
Avoiding the use of "him/her" or the third person singular pronoun "they" by using "the" or restructuring the sentence all together to avoid all three.[35]
NASA now prefers the use of "crewed" and "uncrewed" instead of "manned" and "unmanned", including when discussing historical spaceflight (except proper nouns).[37]

Examples of gender indication in occupational titles[38]
Gendered title	Gender-neutral title
businessman, businesswoman	business person/person in business, business people/people in business
chairman, chairwoman	chair, chairperson
mailman, mailwoman, postman, postwoman	mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker
policeman, policewoman	police officer
salesman, saleswoman	salesperson, sales associate, salesclerk, sales executive
steward, stewardess	flight attendant
waiter, waitress	server, table attendant, waitron
fireman, firewoman	firefighter
barman, barwoman	bartender

Controversy

Canada

University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson uploaded a video to YouTube expressing his opposition to Bill C-16 – An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, a bill introduced by Justin Trudeau's government, in October 2016.[39] The proposed piece of legislation was to add the terms "gender identity" and "gender expression" to the Canadian Human Rights Act and to the Criminal Code's hate crimes provisions.[39] In the video, Peterson argued that legal protection of gender pronouns results in "compelled speech", which would violate the right to freedom of expression outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.[39] In the view of Peterson, legal pronoun protects would force an individual to say something with which one has an opposition to.The bill passed in the House of Commons and in the Senate, becoming law once it received Royal Assent on 19 June 2017.[40] In response to the passing of the bill, Peterson has stated he will not use gender-neutral pronouns if asked in the classroom by a student.[39]

Gender-neutral language

History

Terminology and views

General

Gender indication

Controversy

Canada

See also

In specific languages

Related topics

References

Further reading