LANGUAGE SENSITIVITY

Language shapes our thoughts, perceptions, and attitudes, making it a crucial

factor in promoting awareness and understanding during communication. As a key
element of communication, language can either facilitate or hinder the encoding
and decoding of messages. In this context, language sensitivity plays an important
role because every language has its own unique characteristics.
Language sensitivity refers to being aware of the distinctiveness and
individuality of the language being used. It involves the use of respectful,
supportive, and considerate language, taking into account the context, setting, and
audience (Aycock, 2017).
This topic covers two main areas:
1. Gender-Fair Language – This focuses on:
o Using neutral expressions
o Pluralizing nouns to avoid gender-specific language
o Avoiding stereotypes in communication
2. Politically Sensitive Language – This includes:
o Recognizing and avoiding taboo language
o Avoiding racism in communication
o Being politically aware of the words used in different contexts

LESSON 1: Gender-Fair Language

The government actively promotes equality between men and women,
including in language use. The Republic Act 9710, known as the Magna Carta of
Women, supports and advocates for the consistent use of gender-sensitive
language. Recognizing and using gender-fair language is a key indicator of gender
sensitivity. By adopting gender-fair language, we can avoid misunderstandings and
foster respectful communication across all settings.

1. Neutral Expressions
Neutral expressions use language that avoids bias toward any specific
gender. These expressions eliminate the use of male- or female-specific terms,
ensuring that communication is more inclusive.

Traditional Expression Gender-Fair Alternative

feelings of brotherhood, fraternity feelings of kinship, solidarity
the founding fathers the founders, the founding leaders
The Father of Relativity Theory The Founder of Relativity Theory
Don’t let Mother Nature rip you! Don’t let Nature rip you!
sportsmanship highest ideals of fair play
 2. Plurality of Nouns
The use of plural nouns eliminates the need for gender-specific terms. This
technique ensures that both males and females are included when referring to
groups of people or roles.

Traditional Expression Gender-Fair Alternative

Alumnus/alumna graduates
Chairman/chairwoman chair, chairpersons
Committee man/committee woman committee members
Corporate wife corporate spouses
Faculty wife faculty spouses
Freshman first-year students
Hostess hosts
Housewife/househusband homemakers
Middle man go-between
Spokesman spokespersons, representatives

1. Role References
Role references refer to terms that describe a person's position, role, or
relationship within a group or society. Often, these terms have traditionally been
gendered, reinforcing stereotypes about gender roles. To promote inclusivity,
gender-neutral or bias-free alternatives are used.

Singular (Biased) Plural (Bias-Free)

brotherhood kinship, community
common man common people, average persons
countryman compatriots
fatherland native land
fellowship camaraderie
forefathers ancestors, forebears
fraternal warm, intimate
man, mankind humankind, humanity
mother tongue native language
rise of man rise of civilization
2. Group References
Group references describe groups or categories of people. To avoid
reinforcing gender biases, plural, gender-neutral terms should be used.
Singular (Biased) Plural (Bias-Free)
businessman, businesswoman business executives, entrepreneurs
cleaning lady cleaners
Singular (Biased) Plural (Bias-Free)
girl Friday office assistants, clerks
insurance man insurance agents
landlady, landlord property owners, proprietors
mailman mail carriers, postal workers
newsman journalists, reporters
policeman/policewoman police officers
serviceman service members, service personnel
steward, stewardess flight attendants, cabin crew
waitress servers, waitstaff
delivery boy couriers, messengers

3. Occupational References
Occupational references are terms used to describe job roles. Many of these
terms have traditionally been gendered, but modern language promotes bias-free
alternatives that apply to people of all genders.
Singular (Biased) Plural (Bias-Free)
businessman, businesswoman business executives, entrepreneurs
cleaning lady cleaners
girl Friday office assistants, clerks
insurance man insurance agents
landlady, landlord property owners, proprietors
mailman mail carriers, postal workers
newsman journalists, reporters
policeman/policewoman police officers
serviceman service members, service personnel
steward, stewardess flight attendants, cabin crew
waitress servers, waitstaff
delivery boy couriers, messengers

B. Avoiding Stereotyping
A stereotype is a fixed, over-generalized belief about a particular group or
class of people (Cardwell, 1996). Stereotyped language assumes and perpetuates
these generalizations. When avoiding stereotypes, it’s crucial to use language that
does not emphasize or assume specific information about people’s gender, role, or
identity.

1. Personal Descriptions
Derogatory (Biased) Better Language (Bias-Free)
Bossy or pushy Assertive
Loose Sexually confident
Emotional or hormonal Passionate, enthusiastic
Derogatory (Biased) Better Language (Bias-Free)
Ditzy Silly
Lacking sexual
Frigid
responsiveness
Frumpy Dowdy, old-fashioned
Irresponsible Level-headed
Hysterical Irrational
Arrogant Confident
Whore Lover
Devil Mischievous

2. Role Titles
Derogatory (Biased) Better Language (Bias-Free)
Hostess Host
Housewife Homemaker
Hooker Escort/Service Worker
Dreams fulfiller Financial advisor
GRO (Guest Relations Customer Service
Officer) Representative
Change catalyst Business executive
Erection Engineer Construction specialist
Knob head Mechanical technician

3. Occupational References
Derogatory (Biased) Better Language (Bias-Free)
Businessman/Businesswoman Business executive, entrepreneur
Cleaning lady Cleaner, housekeeper
Administrative assistant, office
Girl Friday
clerk
Insurance man Insurance agent
Landlady/Landlord Property manager, landlord
Mailman Mail carrier, postal worker
Newsman Reporter, journalist
Policeman/Policewoman Police officer
Serviceman Service personnel, service member
Steward/Stewardess Flight attendant, cabin crew
Waitress Server, waitstaff
Delivery boy Courier, messenger

C. Glossary of Gender-Related Terms

Term Example
Agender An individual who does not identify with any gender and feels
genderless.
Ally A person who advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and actively
 supports LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.
Androgynous An individual whose appearance or style combines elements
traditionally associated with both genders.
Asexual An individual who does not experience sexual attraction or has
no interest in sexual activity.
Biphobia Negative attitudes or discrimination towards someone who is
attracted to both men and women.
Bigender A person who feels they embody both male and female genders
at different times or simultaneously.
Bisexual An individual who experiences romantic or sexual attraction to
both men and women.
Cisgender A person assigned female at birth who identifies as a woman.
Closeted A person who privately identifies as gay but has not shared this
aspect of their identity with others.
Coming Out An individual who tells their family and friends that they are
transgender.
Cross-dresser A man who wears dresses and makeup for personal expression
or performance but does not identify as female.
Drag King A female performer who takes on a masculine persona and
dresses as a man in performances.
Drag Queen A male performer who dresses in elaborate female costumes
and makeup for stage performances.
FTM (Female-to- A transgender man who was assigned female at birth and is
Male) undergoing hormone therapy and/or surgery to transition to
male.
Gay A man who is romantically and sexually attracted to other men.
Gender Expectations about how people should behave based on their
sex, such as norms for masculinity and femininity.
Gender A person assigned male at birth who feels distress because they
Dysphoria identify as female.
Gender An individual who uses fashion, makeup, and hairstyle to
Expression express their gender identity.
Gender Fluid An individual who shifts between different gender identities or
expressions over time.
Gender Identity A person who identifies as non-binary or genderqueer, feeling
that their gender identity does not fit into traditional categories.
Gender Non- A person who does not adhere to societal norms for masculinity
conforming or femininity.
Gender An individual undergoing medical treatments or legal
Transition procedures to align their appearance with their gender identity.
Heterosexism Societal norms and policies that favor heterosexual relationships
and marginalize other orientations.
Homophobia Discriminatory behavior or derogatory remarks directed at
individuals who are attracted to the same sex.
Intersex An individual with both male and female reproductive organs or
ambiguous genitalia.
Lesbian A female individual who has romantic and sexual attraction to
other women.
MTF (Male-to- A transgender woman who was assigned male at birth and is
 Female) undergoing treatments to transition to female.
Non-binary An individual who identifies as a mix of male and female or as
neither gender.
Outing Revealing someone’s transgender status or sexual orientation
publicly without their consent.
Queer A broad term used by LGBTQ+ individuals to describe their non-
normative gender or sexual orientation.
Sex Classification based on physical characteristics like reproductive
organs and genetic makeup.
Sexual An individual's attraction to others, such as heterosexual,
Orientation homosexual, or bisexual.
Transgender A person who identifies as a gender different from their
assigned sex at birth.
Two-Spirit A person in some Indigenous cultures who fulfills roles and
embodies characteristics traditionally associated with both
genders.

Lesson 2: Politically Sensitive Language

Language sensitivity is crucial because the choice of words can sometimes be more
piercing than swords (Chandra, 2017, p.1). As language evolves, there is ongoing
debate regarding how much language should be regulated to consider the
sensitivities of various groups. However, a consensus has emerged that language
used in public communication should be inclusive and free of bias.

In many situations, people should be careful with their words to avoid offending
others, including friends, co-workers, and persons in authority. This is the core idea
behind politically sensitive language, which reflects an awareness and sensitivity to
others' physical, mental, cultural, or other disadvantages or deviations from a norm
(Politically Sensitive, n.d., p.1).

A. Taboos

Word taboo, or linguistic taboo, refers to the prohibition of certain words or phrases
in specific social contexts due to societal constraints. These taboos vary across
cultures and contexts. Social anthropologist Edmund Leach identified three
categories of taboo words in English:

1. Sexual and excretory words: Words like "fuck" and "shit."

2. Religious blasphemy: Words like "Christ" and "Jesus" used in exclamations.
3. Animal abuse words: Terms like "bitch" or "cow" used to insult people
(Nordquist, 2018, p.1).

B. Avoiding Racism

Racist language involves using words or phrases that degrade or stereotype an

individual based on their race or ethnicity. Such language can cause harm and
perpetuate discrimination. For example, words like "nigger" or "slave" used against
African-Americans are deeply offensive and should be avoided. Similarly, calling
someone "oriental" can be offensive, with "Asian" being the preferred term in the
U.S. (Stempleski, n.d.).

C. Political Correctness

Political correctness involves using language that avoids offending people of various
genders, races, sexual orientations, cultures, or social conditions (Longley, 2019,
p.1). The goal is to eliminate verbal discrimination and negative stereotyping. This
practice has its supporters and critics, making it a topic ripe for discussions and
debates.

Here are examples of politically correct alternatives to biased language:

Derogatory Politically Correct

(biased) Language
"Oriental" "Asian"
"Blind" "Visually impaired"
"Genocide" "Ethnic cleansing"