Revising Sexist Language
In all sectors of the federal government, in business, and in educational
institutions in particular, there is a growing sensitivity toward avoiding
language that needlessly privileges one sex over the other. Such language
indeed seems to disregard one half of the human race, or makes assumptions
about the professional options for women and men that do not accord with
the values of a society or organization that supports equal opportunity.
Sexist language, according to a Canadian government publication, "is
language that excludes one sex or gives unequal treatment to women and
men." Such language is affronting and even damaging to the extent
that it diminishes an individual. Often sexist language is used unconsciously.
But careful writers make an effort to avoid words and phrases that express
a gender bias.
The list on the right offers non-sexist alternatives to familiar words
and phrases that convey a gender bias.
| Help!
Do not use gender-specific terms in the greeting line
of a formal letter when you do not know the sex of the person(s) who
will read the letter:
Neither Dear Sir: nor Dear Madam: is
advised.
Rather, if you do not know the sex of the addressee, write Dear
Sir/Madam or use the individual's title or position:
Dear Personnel Officer:
Dear Members of the Academic Awards Committee:
Avoid perpetuating occupational stereotypes by drawing attention
to exceptions to the norm:
male nurse
female tank commander
woman pilot
Unless matters of gender and appearance are relevant to your point,
avoid drawing attention to sexual identity when discussing the career
skills or intellectual abilities of an individual. You inform your
reader that you are respecting of others and aware of human diversity
by avoiding sexual stereotypes.
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|
| Avoid |
Prefer |
| businessman |
businessperson |
| chairman |
chair / moderator |
| cleaning woman |
cleaner |
| craftsman |
artisan |
| fireman |
firefighter |
| layman |
layperson |
| man (as a verb) |
operate / staff |
| man-in-the-street |
average person / ordinary people |
| mankind |
humanity |
| man-made |
manufactured / synthetic |
| middleman |
go-between / contact |
| policeman / policewoman |
police officer |
| salesman |
sales representative |
| sportsmanship |
fair play |
| steward / stewardess |
flight attendant |
| workman |
worker |
|
