{"id":335,"date":"2022-04-04T16:00:03","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T16:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/chapter\/using-gender-neutral-language\/"},"modified":"2022-04-04T16:00:03","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T16:00:03","slug":"using-gender-neutral-language","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/chapter\/using-gender-neutral-language\/","title":{"raw":"Using Gender Neutral Language","rendered":"Using Gender Neutral Language"},"content":{"raw":"\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Discuss different strategies to use gender neutral language in business communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<img class=\"alignright wp-image-3367 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2785\/2018\/04\/25180515\/avatar-3127928_1280-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"decorative image\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\">\n\nThe use of gender-neutral language is now considered standard practice, incorporated in the APA (American Psychological Association) and other style guides that are the linguistic \u201cbibles\u201d for journalists, academics, and students. You can access information about&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apastyle.apa.org\/style-grammar-guidelines\/bias-free-language\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bias-free language from APA<\/a>&nbsp;and how to appropriately represent people in your writing, including sections on Disabilities, Race &amp; Ethnicity, and Sex and Gender.\n\nIn order to achieve a more gender-inclusive end, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcenter.unc.edu\/tips-and-tools\/gender-inclusive-language\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill<\/a> recommends focusing on three areas: gendered nouns, titles and names, and pronouns. Consider the following recommendations and examples:\n<ol>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Replace gendered nouns with more neutral language.<\/strong> This can be challenging, in particular when there is an established expectation or association. In updating the Star Trek franchise, writers replaced the \u201cwhere no man has gone before\u201d tagline with the more inclusive \u201cwhere no one has gone before,\u201d retaining both the rhythm and promise of the iconic phrase.<\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Choose equitable titles and names.<\/strong> To illustrate, use Ms. or other appropriate title (Professor, Dr., etc.) that doesn\u2019t define a woman in terms of her relationship with a man. In both written and verbal contexts, give a woman the same respect as you would a man. For example, using both a first and last name or title and last name rather than an informal first name.<\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Use pronouns equitably.<\/strong> As mentioned above, using masculine pronouns (\u201che,\u201d \u201chis,\u201d \u201chim\u201d) as the \u201cdefault\u201d is no longer an accepted practice. Instead, consider the following options:\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Use more than one pronoun:<\/strong>&nbsp;If you don\u2019t know the gender of the person the pronoun refers to, use \u201che or she\u201d or her\/him. Note: Be aware of your audience; using \u201che or she\u201d may exclude people who do not relate to either pronoun. In that case, you may want to use a more inclusive, albeit rather lengthy, \u201che\/she\/they.\u201d<\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Alternate genders and pronouns:<\/strong>&nbsp;If the person being referred to could be either female or male, alternate using the masculine and feminine pronouns. Be sure to do this in a way that doesn't confuse your listener\/reader by making it sound as though multiple people are involved when there's just one.<\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Make your nouns and pronouns plural:<\/strong> This sidesteps the gender issue for your audience by making it sound as if there is more than one. For example, he or she becomes they.<\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Use \u201cthey\u201d as a singular pronoun:<\/strong> Although \u201cthey\u201d generally refers to a plural antecedent\u2014that is, is used as a plural pronoun\u2014it is also used as a gender-neutral pronoun. Again, know your audience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Practice Question<\/h3>\nhttps:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/8697\n\n<\/div>\n<h2>Contribute!<\/h2>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\">Did you have an idea for improving this content? We\u2019d love your input.<\/div>\n<a style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 600; color: #077fab; text-decoration: none; border: 2px solid #077fab; border-radius: 7px; padding: 5px 25px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.5em;\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1d1emX0k7huDSF92nrB4BPfdZo_Ni6f8h3K69nMBJEb0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Improve this page<\/a><a style=\"margin-left: 16px;\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1vy-T6DtTF-BbMfpVEI7VP_R7w2A4anzYZLXR8Pk4Fu4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn More<\/a>\n","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Discuss different strategies to use gender neutral language in business communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-3367 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2785\/2018\/04\/25180515\/avatar-3127928_1280-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"decorative image\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The use of gender-neutral language is now considered standard practice, incorporated in the APA (American Psychological Association) and other style guides that are the linguistic \u201cbibles\u201d for journalists, academics, and students. You can access information about&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apastyle.apa.org\/style-grammar-guidelines\/bias-free-language\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bias-free language from APA<\/a>&nbsp;and how to appropriately represent people in your writing, including sections on Disabilities, Race &amp; Ethnicity, and Sex and Gender.<\/p>\n<p>In order to achieve a more gender-inclusive end, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcenter.unc.edu\/tips-and-tools\/gender-inclusive-language\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill<\/a> recommends focusing on three areas: gendered nouns, titles and names, and pronouns. Consider the following recommendations and examples:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Replace gendered nouns with more neutral language.<\/strong> This can be challenging, in particular when there is an established expectation or association. In updating the Star Trek franchise, writers replaced the \u201cwhere no man has gone before\u201d tagline with the more inclusive \u201cwhere no one has gone before,\u201d retaining both the rhythm and promise of the iconic phrase.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Choose equitable titles and names.<\/strong> To illustrate, use Ms. or other appropriate title (Professor, Dr., etc.) that doesn\u2019t define a woman in terms of her relationship with a man. In both written and verbal contexts, give a woman the same respect as you would a man. For example, using both a first and last name or title and last name rather than an informal first name.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Use pronouns equitably.<\/strong> As mentioned above, using masculine pronouns (\u201che,\u201d \u201chis,\u201d \u201chim\u201d) as the \u201cdefault\u201d is no longer an accepted practice. Instead, consider the following options:\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Use more than one pronoun:<\/strong>&nbsp;If you don\u2019t know the gender of the person the pronoun refers to, use \u201che or she\u201d or her\/him. Note: Be aware of your audience; using \u201che or she\u201d may exclude people who do not relate to either pronoun. In that case, you may want to use a more inclusive, albeit rather lengthy, \u201che\/she\/they.\u201d<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Alternate genders and pronouns:<\/strong>&nbsp;If the person being referred to could be either female or male, alternate using the masculine and feminine pronouns. Be sure to do this in a way that doesn&#8217;t confuse your listener\/reader by making it sound as though multiple people are involved when there&#8217;s just one.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Make your nouns and pronouns plural:<\/strong> This sidesteps the gender issue for your audience by making it sound as if there is more than one. For example, he or she becomes they.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Use \u201cthey\u201d as a singular pronoun:<\/strong> Although \u201cthey\u201d generally refers to a plural antecedent\u2014that is, is used as a plural pronoun\u2014it is also used as a gender-neutral pronoun. Again, know your audience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Practice Question<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"lumen_assessment_8697\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/load?assessment_id=8697&#38;embed=1&#38;external_user_id=&#38;external_context_id=&#38;iframe_resize_id=lumen_assessment_8697\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:400px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Contribute!<\/h2>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\">Did you have an idea for improving this content? We\u2019d love your input.<\/div>\n<p><a style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 600; color: #077fab; text-decoration: none; border: 2px solid #077fab; border-radius: 7px; padding: 5px 25px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.5em;\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1d1emX0k7huDSF92nrB4BPfdZo_Ni6f8h3K69nMBJEb0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Improve this page<\/a><a style=\"margin-left: 16px;\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1vy-T6DtTF-BbMfpVEI7VP_R7w2A4anzYZLXR8Pk4Fu4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-335\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Using Gender Neutral Language. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Nina Burokas. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>cartoon faces polaroids. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: coffeebeanworks. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Pixabay. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/avatar-customers-photos-ecommerce-3127928\/\">https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/avatar-customers-photos-ecommerce-3127928\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/cc0\">CC0: No Rights Reserved<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":395986,"menu_order":12,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Using Gender Neutral Language\",\"author\":\"Nina Burokas\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"cartoon faces polaroids\",\"author\":\"coffeebeanworks\",\"organization\":\"Pixabay\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/avatar-customers-photos-ecommerce-3127928\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc0\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"a617b6be-9bd7-4993-b307-27447ec477ac, 647840e7-5fd3-40ac-b36b-78f7b8c5de7a","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-335","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":323,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/395986"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/335\/revisions"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/323"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/335\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=335"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=335"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/esc-businesscomskills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}