Avoiding Sexist Language

                                             

While we are on the topic of “language to avoid”, let’s take a look at what we call “sexist language”. What do we mean by “sexist language” you ask? Careful, it’s not the same as “sexy language.”   Simply, it means language that is specific to one gender or the other. Typically though, we are talking about language that excludes one gender or the other; in English this has more typically applied to the exclusion of women rather than men. In English, it is important that you know that there has been a movement in educated professional circles to be more conscientious of this language point. For example, take a look at the word: 

businessMAN. 

Are all businesspeople men? Why is it that we use this when we talk about women as well? Well, there is a solution to this, words like “businesspeople” can be used instead to include both men and women. 

    

Let’s give you a few more examples of what to do and what to avoid when we talk about this language point. Let’s start by looking at the following suggestions dealing with pronouns and noun use. 

Address the reader directly 

Avoid:    If HE works hard, an employee should be promoted.

Instead:  If YOU work hard, you should be promoted. OR If the employees work hard, they should be promoted.

Eliminate the pronoun entirely 

Avoid:   Each director decides the best way for HIM to handle the situation.

Instead:  Each director decides the best way to handle the situation.

Substitute pronouns with articles 

Avoid:   A careful student consults HER dictionary frequently.

Instead: A careful student consults a dictionary frequently.

Use plural, rather than singular, pronouns and nouns 

Avoid:   Teach the student to think for HIMSELF.

Instead: Teach students to think for THEMSELVES.

Avoid:   SHE is expanding HER target market.

Instead:  THEY are expanding THEIR target market.

Use specific, genderless nouns 

Avoid:   The average MAN on the street gives HIS view on the campaign.

Instead:  The average VOTER speaks out against the campaign. 

Repeat the noun or use a synonym 

Avoid:   The professor who gets published frequently will have a better chance when HE goes before the tenure board.

Instead: The professor who gets published frequently will have a better chance when FACULY TENURE  is granted.

Use both pronouns, but vary their order 

Avoid: Everyone is entitled to HIS opinion.

Instead: Everyone is entitled to his or her/ her or his opinion.

Do you understand how it works from the examples above? Okay, we have compiled a list of job titles you should review and try to start incorporating into your active vocabulary as well. Especially in professional circles, and when you communicate to people in writing, this is useful information. Therefore, use and add to the following chart over time.   

PROFESSIONAL TITLES THAT ARE SEXIST                        MORE APPROPRIATE FORMS

Businessman/men	Business person/people, people in business, executive, merchant, industrialist, entrepreneur, manager
Cameraman	Camera operator, photographer
Chairman	Chairperson, chair, moderator, group leader, department head, presiding officer
Craftsman	Craftsperson, artisan
Deliveryman/boy	Delivery driver/clerk, porter, deliverer, courier,   messenger
Draftsman	Drafter
Fireman	Fire Fighter
Guys (Ex. Hey guys, how are you?)	Men, people
Headmaster	Principal
Kingpin	Key person, leader
Lumberman	Wood chopper, tree/lumber cutter
Male nurse	Nurse
Manhole/cover	Sewer hole, utility access/cover
Man-hours	labor, staff/work hours, time
Man-made	Manufactured, hand built, hand made, synthetic, simulated, machine-made
Night watchman	Night guard, night watch
Policeman	Police officer, detective
Pressman	Press operator
Repairman, handyman	Repairer (be specific: plumber, carpenter, etc.)
Salesman/men	Salespeople, salesperson(s), sales, agent, associate, representative, sales force, sales staff
Spokesman	Representative, spokesperson, advocate, proponent
Sportsman	Sports/outdoor enthusiast (be specific: hunter, fisher, canoer, etc.)
Sportsmanship	Fair play
Statesman	Political leader, public servant, diplomat
Statesmanship	Diplomacy
Weatherman	Weather reporter, meteorologist
Authoress	Author
Coed	Student
Gal, Girl, Girl Friday	Woman, secretary, assistant, aide
Housewife, lady of the house	Homemaker, consumer, customer, shopper, parent
Lady/female doctor, lawyer	Doctor, lawyer
Little lady, better half	Spouse, partner, wife
Maid, cleaning lady	Housekeeper, custodian
Poetress, Sculptress	Poet, sculptor
Usherette	Usher
Waitress	Wait person, waiter
Working wife/mother	Worker, professional
Dear Sir	Dear Madam or Sir, Dear Personnel Officer/Director, Dear Executive/Manager, BEST: name
Fatherland	Homeland, native land
Founding fathers	Pioneers, colonist, patriots, forebears, founders
Ladylike, girlish, sissy, effeminate	Tender, cooperative, polite, neat, fearful, weak,   illogical, inactive (male & female)
Lady luck	Luck
Layman, layman’s terms	Lay, common, ordinary, informal, non-technical
Maiden name	Birth name
Maiden voyage	First/premier voyage
Male chauvinist	Chauvinist
Male ego	Ego
Man-sized	Husky, sizable, big, large, voracious
Man-to-Man	Person-to-person, face-to-face, one-to-one
Manly, tomboy	Courageous, strong, vigorous, adventurous, spirited, physical, messy, logical, rude, self-confident.
Mother nature, Father time	Nature, time
Mothering, fathering	Parenting, child-rearing
Motherly	Protective, supportive, kind
Unwed mother	Mother
Woman’s/man’s work	Avoid, be specific
Woman’s page	Lifestyle, living section

From:  Harty, Kevin J. (1999). Business & Technical Writing. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. (90-94).

There was a lot of information here, and we don’t expect you to catch on to using all this language right away. However, if you are to be a part of the educated English-speaking professional world, this is something you need to be aware of and sensitive to. The expectation is that your awareness will turn into a gradual use of this language, replacing those old sexist terms with the more appropriate language. Not only will this make you more respected in a professional context, but also it will help you with some of the cultural faux pas that non-native English speakers often find themselves making.