Want to make your friends and colleagues feel more respected and included? Try using gender-neutral language. Here are 17 examples you can start using today.
Feeling respected and included
Gendered language has been part of our culture for so long that sometimes we don't even realise we’re using it.
But did you know that using gendered language can really impact the people around us? We can unintentionally offend or harm others by assuming their gender or by pushing gender stereotypes onto them.
If, like me, you want people to feel respected and included, try using gender-neutral language in your interactions and writing.
Using gender-neutral language
Here are 17 examples of gender-neutral language that we can all start using today:
Use the pronoun ‘they’ rather than ‘he/she.’
Use ‘Mx’ instead of ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss.’
Use a person’s full name rather than their title (i.e Dear Jo Bloggs, instead of Dear Mr Bloggs).
Use ‘folks/everyone’ instead of ‘ladies/gentlemen/guys.’
Use ‘chairperson’ instead of ‘chairman/chairwoman.’
Use ‘salesperson’ instead of ‘salesman/saleswoman.’
Use ‘crewed’ instead of ‘manned.’
Use ‘person’ instead of ‘man/woman.’
Use ‘parent’ instead of ‘mum/dad.’
Use ‘child’ instead of ‘boy/girl.’
Use ‘grandchild’ instead of ‘granddaughter/grandson.’
Use ‘sibling’ instead of ‘brother/sister.’
Use ‘actor’ instead of ‘actress.’
Use ‘server’ instead of ‘waiter/waitress.’
Use ‘synthetic’ instead of ‘man-made.’
Use ‘family name’ instead of ‘maiden name.’
Use ‘humankind’ instead of ‘mankind.’
If you’re ever in doubt about how a friend or colleague might like to be addressed or described, it's best to ask them about their preference.
Being open to feedback
Language is constantly evolving, so it's important we stay open-minded about our ever-changing cultural lexicon. There are many ways we can stay informed, including spending time with diverse groups and researching online. Just remember, we're all human and we all make mistakes sometimes, but that's okay as long as we acknowledge them, learn from them and keep trying.
Have you got some other examples of gender-neutral language to share? If so, pop them in the comment box below!
About Victoria Hall
Victoria believes that great communication has the power to change the world. She's passionate about helping organisations to lift their profiles, inspire action and achieve remarkable results by crafting and delivering their stories and messages in a clear, compelling and persuasive way. If you've got a question about how to produce high-quality communication plans or content, you can contact Victoria here or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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