Notre Dame GTU Resources - TA Training, Gender Inclusive Language

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TA Training Resources & Guidelines for Gender-Inclusive Use of Language

Omission of Women

1. Generic use

Examples	Alternatives
mankind	humanity, human beings, people
man's achievements	human achievements
the best man for the job	the best person for the job, the best man or woman for the job
man-made	artificial, synthetic, manufactured
the common man	the average person, ordinary people

2. Generic Occupational Terms

Examples	Alternatives
chairman	coordinator (of a committee or department), moderator (of a meeting), presiding officer, head, chair
businessman, fireman, mailman	business executive or manager, fire fighter, mail carrier
steward/stewardess	flight attendant
policeman/policewoman	police officer

3. Third Person Pronoun

a. Recast into plural

Examples	Alternatives
Give each student his paper as soon as he is finished.	Give students their papers as soon as they are finished.

b. Reword to eliminate unnecessary gender problems

Examples	Alternatives
The average student is worried about his grades.	The average student is worried about grades.

c. Replace the masculine pronoun with one, you, or (sparingly) he or she, as appropriate

Examples	Alternatives
Give each student his paper as soon as he is finished.	Give students their papers as soon as they are finished.
If the student was satisfied with his performance on the pretest, he took the posttest.	A student who was satisfied with her or his performance on the pretest took the posttest.

d. Alternate male and female examples and expressions

Examples	Alternatives
Let each student participate. Has he had a chance to talk? Could he feel left out?	Let each student participate. Has she had a chance to talk? Could he feel left out?

e. In all but strictly formal usage, plural pronouns have become acceptable substitutes for the masculine singular

Examples	Alternatives
Anyone who wants to go to the game should bring his money tomorrow.	Anyone who wants to go to the game should bring their money tomorrow.

f. Assume the readers are both male and female

Examples	Alternatives
Participants in the AAR Convention and their wives are invited . . .	Participants in the AAR Convention and their spouses are invited. . .

Demeaning Women

1. Parallel Description

Examples	Alternatives
lady lawyer	lawyer
Running for Student Council president are Bill Smith, the star quarterback, and Kathie Ryan, a vivacious junior.	Running for Student Council president are Bill Smith, the star quarterback, and newspaper editor Kathie Ryan.
Senator Kennedy and Ms. Boxer	Senators Kennedy and Boxer

2. Trivialization

Examples	Alternatives
I'll have my girl do it.	I'll ask my secretary to do it.
ladies	women (unless used with gentlemen)
coed	student
authoress, poetess	author, poet
man-sized job/appetite	big job/appetite
old wives' tales	superstitions

Sex-Role Stereotyping

1. Occupational Assumptions

Examples	Alternatives
Writers become so involved in their work that they neglect their wives and children.	Writers become so involved in their work that they neglect their families.
Sally's husband lets her teach part-time.	Sally teaches part-time.

2. Assumptions about Roles

Examples	Alternatives
the elementary teacher . . . she	elementary teachers . . . they
the principal . . . he	principals . . . they
Ask your mother to make cookies for the field trip.	Ask your parents to make cookies for the field trip.

3. Assumptions about Personal Characteristics

Examples	Alternatives
While lunch was delayed, the ladies chatted about last night's meeting.	While lunch was delayed, the women talked about last night's meeting.

Quoting Sources That Use Exclusive Language

Sexist language in direct quotation cannot be altered, but other alternatives are available:

Avoid the quotation altogether if it is not really necessary.
Paraphrase the quotation, giving the original author credit for he idea.
If the quotation is fairly short, recast it as an indirect quotation, eliminating exclusive language.

The NRSV

This most recent ecumenical translation of the Bible (1990) attempts to modify the exclusive language of the King James/Revised Standard Version wherever possible. It retains the male pronoun for God, but broadens references to persons where the meaning of the original language seems to be inclusive.

The above ideas were adapted from guidelines initially written by the National Council of Teachers of English, pursuant to a resolution passed by the Council in 1974; K. Murphy, University of Notre Dame, 12 October 1990.