Gender-Neutrality Language
Meaning:
On its broadest sense, gender neutral language is a achieved by avoiding
“gender generics”, which are masculine or feminine nouns and pronouns used
to refer to both men and women.
In discussing gender neutral language some authors focus exclusively on the
avoidance of male generics. This makes sense because these are few often
refers to such language as “sexiest”. The “sexiest” label, However, may not be
the best way to further the goal of linguistic change. While male gender
generics may communicate “subtle sexism”, one should not assume that the
writer “sexist”. The use of such a negative term may have the unintended effect
of unfairly labelling then writer and closing down discussion.
What is sexism in language?
-It is the use in language which devalues members of the one sex, almost
invariably women and thus foster gender inequality.
-it discriminates against women by rendering them invisible or trivializing them
at the same that it perpetuates notions of male supremacy.
Why the concerns about mere words?
Language articulates consciousness
- It not only orders our thought but from infancy, we learn to use
language to give utterance to our basic needs and feelings.
Language reflects culture
- It encodes and transmits cultural meaning and values in society.
Language affects socialization
- Children learning language absorbs the cultural assumption and
biases underlying language use and see these as an index to their
society’s values and attitudes.
- Social inequity reflected in language can thus powerfully affect a
child’s later behavior and believes.
What are the kinds of sexist language?
Language that excludes women or renders them invisible
The use of masculine language
Subsuming all humanity in the terms man, father, brother,
master.
Current usage Alternative
Man human being, human, person,
individual
Mankind, Men Human being, humans,
humankind, humanity, people,
human race, human species,
society, men and women
Working men Workers, Wage Earners
Man on the street Average person, Ordinary
person
Forefather Ancestor
Layman Layperson, non-specialist, non-
professional
Manhood Adulthood, maturity
Manning Staffing, Working, Running
To a man Everyone, Unanimously, without
exception
One man show One person show, sole
exhibition
Founding Fathers Founders
Manpower Human resource, Staff,
personnel, labor force
Brotherhood of man The family of humanity, the
unity of people or of human
kind, human solidarity
Early man Early people, early men and
women, early human being
Statemanship Diplomacy
Man-made Manufactured, synthetic,
artificial
Old master Classic art/artists
Masterful Domineering, very skillful
The singular masculine pronouns “He”, “His”, “Him”
Examples:
When a reporter covers a controversial story, he has a
responsibility to present both sides of the issue.
Each student should bring his notebook to class every day.
Everyone packed his own lunch.
If a customer has a complaint, send him to the service
center.
The handicapped child may be able to feed himself.
Suggested alternatives:
When reporters cover controversial stories, they have
responsibility……….
All students should bring their notebooks to class everyday.
Everyone packed a lunch.
Customers with complaints should be sent to service center.
Handicapped children may be able to feed themselves.
Terms ending in man to refer to functions that may be by
individuals of either sex
Current Usage Alternative
Businessman Business Executive, manager,
Business Owner, retailer
Chairman Chairperson, Chair
Congressman Representative, member of the
congress, congress member, legislator
Spokesman Spokesperson, representative
Statesman Diplomats, political leaders
Policeman Police Officer, law enforcement officer
Terms used as though they apply to adults male only, or are
appropriated to a particular sex
Examples
Settlers moved west taking their wives and children with them.
Farmers found their drought conditions difficult, and so did their wives.
It has been falsely said that the Greeks mistreated their wives.
Alternatives
Use “families” for “wives and children”
Use “spouse” for “wives”
Use “Greek Males”
Current Usage Alternatives
Lawyers/doctors/farmers and their Lawyers/Doctors/ Farmers and their
wives spouse
The teachers and her student Teachers and his or her students,
teachers and their students
The secretary and the boss Secretary and his or her boss,
secretaries and their bosses
The generic masculine reflects gender inequality in that women are never seen
in terms of general or representative humanity. Men represent the universal or
the human to which women are the other.
Language that trivializes women or diminishes their stature.
Feminine suffixes such as –ess, -ette, -trix, make unnecessary
reference to the person’s sex, and suggest triviality, unimportance or
inferiority of women occupying such a position.
Current Usage Alternatives
Actress Actor
Comedienne Comedian
Heroines Heroes
Use of sex-linked modifiers sounds gratuitous, is patronizing and
suggests that the norms for some occupations is for a particular sex.
Current Usage Alternatives
Female Lawyer Lawyer
Woman writer Writer
Male secretary Secretary
-Such modifiers imply that they are not real lawyers, writes, secretary
and etc.
-When it is necessary to point out the female aspect of a person
occupying a given role or occupation, use ”female” or “woman”, rather than
“lady”, e.g. Female guard.
Language which disparages and marginalizes women (or persons
of another gender)
Current Usage Alternatives
Girl Adult Female
Ladies Women
House husbands and house wifes Homemakers
Language that fosters unequal gender relations
Lack of Parallelism
Current Usage Alternatives
Man and Wife Husband and Wife
Men and Ladies Men and women: ladies and
gentlemen
The use of the terms that call attention to a person’s sex in
designating occupations, positions, roles, etc
Current Usage Alternatives
Motherhoods, fatherhoods Parenthood
Political Husband Political Spouse
Stewardess, steward Flight/cabin attendant
Gender Polarization of meaning in the use of adjectives
Examples:
-Forceful men are perceived as charismatic while forceful women are
labeled domineering
-Light-hearted men are seen as easygoing, while women of the same
nature are frivolous.
-Forgetful men are called absent-minded while forgetful women are
termed scatterbrained
The term womanly, manly, feminine, masculine depict each sex a
being solely associated with particular attributes. Use adjectives that
specify every shade of meaning, For example: sensitive, determined,
strong, nurturing, they clarify as well as enrich one’s use of language.
Lexical Gap
In the English language, there is an absence or lack of words that
refer to women’s experience.
Hidden Assumption
Compare these two statements:
Men can care for children just as well as women. (We find this
statement wholly acceptable)
Women can care for children just as well as men. (We find this
strange and bizarre)
-The disparity in our reactions to these two statements reflects our
shared assumptions or our internalized model of the world we live
where women are lacked in gender role.
Promotion on the use of Gender fair language
To intensify the campaign for the use of gender fair language in the
judiciary, a primer in the same develops by the University of the Phillippines
was adopted in the manual of style by the court. The primer was distributed to
all courts. Moreover, the use of gender fair language in included in the gender
sensitivity training module used by the judiciary.
To ensure that judges used gender-fair language, the committee is
recommending to the society of judicial excellence, the award giving body for
judges, the inclusion of the use of gender fair language in court decisions as a
criteria in the selection awardees.
Conclusion
Once we accept that gender neutral language in the legal writing is
worthwhile goals, it is essential to look to the highest court to help to set
standard. The use of the gender neutral language shows that it can be done
without scarifying style. The continued used of gendered generics interferes
with the important responsibility of the court to communicate effectively to
judges, lawyers, students and the public. The increased used of gender neutral
language by the court is a goal worthy of attention, realistically, judges are in
the best position to change the language of the law.
