WRITING CENTER "INFORMATION PICK-UP" (S.S.C.C.)
NON-SEXIST WRITING
• WHAT IS NON-SEXIST WRITING? WHAT IS SEXIST WRITING?
• WHY SHOULD WRITERS AVOID SEXIST WRITING?
• EXAMPLES OF SEXIST WRITING--TO AVOID
• WHAT IS NON-SEXIST WRITING? WHAT IS SEXIST WRITING?
Non-sexist writing is writing which does not communicate bias regarding both sexes. "Non-sexist" means "not showing, advocating, or involving sexism ("attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of sexual roles; discrimination or prejudice based on a person's sex, esp. discrimination against women")" (Random House Webster's College Dictionary).
Sexist writing treats one of the two genders as being somehow "less" or lower than the other.
• WHY SHOULD WRITERS AVOID SEXIST WRITING?
Writers should use "gender neutral" language so as not to offend or falsely stereotype an entire gender.
• EXAMPLES OF SEXIST WRITING--TO AVOID
Use gender-neutral terms such as:
REPLACE: USE:
mankind humankind
mothering parenting
fireman fire fighter
maid house worker
office boy or girl office assistant, office helper
seamstress sewer, mender
watchman guard
airman pilot
craftsman crafts person
handyman handy person
manmade human made, hand-maid,
hand-built, synthetic,
manufactured,
man person
spokesman spokes person
salesman sales person
chairman chair person
policeman police officer
mailman mail delivery person
garbage man sanitation worker
to man (verb) to operate, to staff
workman's compensation worker's compensation
manpower human effort, personnel,
staffing
newspaper man news reporter, news anchor
newsboy newspaper delivery person
foreman supervisor
hat check girl hat-check attendant
busboy bus person
lineman line installer, line repairer
In The Handbook of Non-Sexist Writing, the authors Kate Smith and Casey Miller argue that the word "man" is a "false generic" (a term which is used to describe a class or a group but is not applicable to all its members). "Man" implies the male gender (and has since the 18th century) and is used generally as such. If "man" is used to generalize to the entire human race, it will cause confusion and exclude females.
As Smith and Miller note: "Recent studies of college students and school children indicate that the broad definitions of man and men,
although still taught, have to a significant degree become inoperative at a subliminal level. Phrases like economic man and political man, or statements like 'Man domesticated animals' and 'Man is a dreamer,' it turns out, tend to call up images of male people only, not female people or females and males together."
Other Strategies to Avoid Sexist Writing:
To avoid gender-specific pronouns (he, she, his, hers), change the wording in a sentence from singular to plural.
Examples:
Each professional athlete needs to participate in drug testing to prove his honesty.
Professional athletes need to participate in drug testing to prove their honesty.
The student must complete his test in one hour.
Students must complete their tests in one hour.
OR, use a substitute for the possessive pronouns:
Examples:
Each professional athlete needs to participate in drug testing to qualify for competition.
The student must complete the test in one hour.
Avoid "he/she" or "his/her", as these look awkward. Rather, choose "he or she" and "his or her".
Sources: Kate Swift and Casey Miller's The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing. Debra A. Smith and Helen R. Sutton's Powerful Proofreading Skills: Tips, Techniques and Tactics, and other sources
(Revised 1998)