The English language has a strong masculine bias. Writers should try to ensure that their language is inclusive – for example, chair or chairperson instead of chairman. Writers should also constantly be on guard for inappropriate assumptions about gender.
Do not mention gender in relation to a particular role or position:
The Australian Chief Medical Officer, who is a woman, was interviewed by ABC television.
Unless the interview is about women’s issues, it is irrelevant whether the Chief Medical Officer is a woman or a man. Examples of this type of discrimination are surprisingly common and must be avoided.
Some ways to eliminate a gender bias from writing are:
Dr Joan Smith, an analytical chemist from Melbourne, has been appointed as director of the board.
not
Dr Joan Smith, a Melbourne mother of 3, has been appointed as director of the board.
- use words such as staff or operate instead of man as a verb
staff the laboratory operate the equipment
- use words such as person or people rather than man
People cannot live without water.
not
Man cannot live without water.
Mr Smith was the chair. or Mr Smith was the chairperson.
not
Mr Smith was the chairman.
- rewrite sentences in the plural form
If trainees continue to show competence, they may be promoted to the position of water supervisor.
not
If the trainee continues to show competence, he may be promoted to the position of water supervisor.
If the trainee continues to show competence, they may be promoted.
The department is looking to appoint a person in their mid-twenties.
The mission statement should encompass everyone’s perception of their role.
An analytical chemist often has difficulty interpreting ambiguous data. Experiments can give unexpected results, which even an experienced scientist [not he] may not be able to fully explain.
The trainee who continues to show competence after independent project work may be promoted to the position.
not
If, after independent project work, the trainee continues to show competence, he may be promoted to the position.
- use terms such as men and women, male and female, ladies and gentlemen, and boys and girls in parallel ways
Samples were obtained from 15 students: 10 men and 5 women.
not
Samples were obtained from 15 students: 10 men and 5 girls.
The term lady is used as a courtesy title (Lady Smith) and as a polite form of address for women in general in phrases such as ladies and gentlemen. However, the association of lady with stereotypical roles for women means that woman is now the preferred term for a female adult:
I saw a woman walking down the street.
not
I saw a lady walking down the street.
Terms such as cleaning lady are particularly patronising and must be replaced with cleaner or similar. Similarly, avoid expressions such as She saw the lady doctor when She saw the doctor would suffice, or My doctor is a woman, unless it is important to convey this information.
