GENDER FAIR LANGUAGE

• LANGUAGE ARTICULATES CONSCIOUSNESS

  • As children, we learn to use language to express our basic needs and feelings.

  As we grow older, we use language to form our opinions and order our thoughts
• LANGUAGE REFLECTS CULTURE

  • Cultural meanings and values are verbalized and transmitted through language.

  As a result, language becomes a tool for perpetuating stereotypes.
• LANGUAGE AFFECTS SOCIALIZATION

  We learn the norms of the society or group that we are in, and conform to these norms.
• GENDER-BASED DISCRIMINATION

  Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): it is any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex, which has the purpose or effect of denying equal exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields of human endeavor.
• Elements of Gender-Based Discrimination

  • Action: that distinguishes, excludes or restricts a person.
  • Basis: The sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation of the person.
  • Purpose or effect: Person discriminated against is denied the equal exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 
• SEXISM IN LANGUAGE

  • Use of language that devalues members of a sex or gender, and thus fosters gender inequality.
• Kinds of Sexist Language

  1. LANGUAGE WHICH EXCLUDES MEMBERS OF ONE SEX OR GENDER OR RENDERS THEM INVISIBLE

  GENERIC “MAN”

  • All humanity is subsumed in the terms “man”, “father”, “brother", “master”. 
  • Confusion “Man” is often associated with the adult male and it is difficult to distinguish if it is used in the literal sense or in the generic sense. 
  • Inequality - It reflects gender inequality because women are never seen in terms of general or representative humanity. 
  • Othering “Man” represents the universe and the human while woman is the “other”.
• AVOID USING THE GENERIC MASCULINE

  Alternatives: 

  • Replace “man” with specific nouns or verbs that say explicitly what you mean.
• THE GENERIC “HE” AND “HIS”

  There is no gender-neutral singular pronoun in the English language. So by default, “he” and “his” are often used in the generic sense. However, these pronouns, when used to replace generic “man” pose the same problems.
• TERMS ENDING IN “MAN BUT REFER TO FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY EITHER SEX

  • Some professions and occupations have become gendered, often excluding, or at least discouraging the other sex from pursuing the profession.

  Paints the picture of the ideal person for the profession or occupation as a man (most often); as a result, women have difficulty entering the profession or advancing their career
• ELIMINATE STEREOTYPING: AVOID TERMS IN TITLES THAT REFER TO SEX

  • When writing titles or terms referring to occupations, avoid using words that suggest the job is not normally or properly performed by one sex or the other.
• LANGUAGE USE THAT REFERS TO MEN BY DEFAULT

  • Generic words are used to refer exclusively to men. 
  • It results in inaccurate depiction of the situation. 

  The generic term does not leave room to acknowledge the existence of women.
• 1. LANGUAGE THAT TRIVIALIZES WOMEN, DIMINISHES THEIR STATURE

  FEMININE SUFFIXES (-ESS, -ETTE, -TRIX, -ENNE)

  Unnecessary reference is made to the person’s sex.
• USE OF SEX-LINKED MODIFIERS

  Sounds gratuitous, is patronizing and suggests that the norm for some occupations is for a particular sex.
• 1. LANGUAGE THAT DISPARAGES AND MARGINALIZES WOMEN

  Some commonly used terms inherently represent women as having less worth than men.
• 4. LANGUAGE THAT FOSTERS UNEQUAL GENDER RELATIONS

  LACK OF PARALLELISM

  • Language that puts one sex at an unequal footing with the other and thus perpetuates gender inequality
• ADDRESS MEN AND WOMEN UNIFORMLY

  • In formal correspondence, don’t use “Dear Messrs.”, “Dear Sirs”, or any similar format when addressing a body of several individuals. 

  Instead, use gender-neutral opening statements.
• 1. GENDER POLARIZATION OF MEANINGS IN THE USE OF ADJECTIVES

  PROBLEM: The terms “womanly”, “manly”, “feminine”, and “masculine” depict each sex as being solely associated with particular attributes, and therefore perpetuate stereotypes 

  ALTERNATIVE: Use specific words instead to express every shade of meaning
• 1. LEXICAL GAP

  In the English language, there is an absence or lack of words that refer to women’s experiences.
• HIDDEN ASSUMPTIONS