CULTURALLY

SENSITIVE AND
BIAS-FREE
LANGUAGE
1. RACE AND ETHNICITY

Improper term: Red Indian Intsik

Correct term: Native Americans Filipino Chinese
2. SOCIAL CLASS

yuppies conyo jejemon jologs

3. AGE
Improper term
Boys
You listen to me, boy! (when speaking with 21
year old professional)
proper term
man
4. DISABILITIES

Improper term Proper term

Blind visually impaired
pipe / mute and deaf Deaf
5. GENDER

• Discriminating between men and women

and other sexual orientation.
 USE OF
GENDER FAIR
LANGUAGE
 SEXISM IN LANGUAGE
• The use of language which devalues
members of one sex, almost invariably
women, thus fosters gender inequality
(The University Center for Women
Studies-University of the Philippines )
• It discriminates against women by
rendering them invisible or
trivializing them at the same time
that it perpetuates notions of
male supremacy
REASONS FOR CONCERN
IN THE USE OF SEXIST
LANGUAGE

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

1. LANGUAGE ARTICULATES CONSCIOUSNESS

•It not only orders our thoughts

but from infancy, we learn to
use language to give utterance
to our basic needs and feelings
2. LANGUAGE REFLECTS
CULTURE
• It encodes and transmits cultural
meanings and values in our
society
3. LANGUAGE AFFECTS SOCIALIZATION

• Children learning a language absorb the

cultural assumptions and biases
underlying language use and see these as
an index to their society’s values and
attitudes
 HOW TO AVOID
SEXIST LANGUAGE
A. AVOID ATTACHING SEXIST
TERMS WHEN THE GENDER
IS UNKNOWN
• When the gender is unknown,
there is no reason to attach a
supposed gender
.
B. AVOID SEXISM
• Sexism is introduced to base words using
suffix. Adding -ess or –ette unto unknown
neutral noun indicates a feminine
adjustment to a masculine word. Ex.
Usherette, directress
C. AVOID DEMEANING

WORDS
•Some words demean like
“chick” to refer to a woman
and “cat” to refer to a man.
D. AVOID STEREOTYPING
• Stereotyping means “ an unvarying
form of patterns; a fixed or
conventional notion or conception, a s
of a group, idea etc., held by a number
of people allowing for no individuality”
E. AVOID VERBAL ABUSE

• Examples Cry baby or mama’s boy

• Women: bitches, witches, catty
WAYS TO AVOID SEXIST
LANGUAGE
A. MAN DOES NOT INVOLVE
WOMEN
• Avoid using man to refer to human beings.
Sexist: man was created by God.
non-sexist: Humans were created by
God.
B. AVOID DESCRIBING WOMEN’S
APPEARANCES IN TERMS OF THEIR
SEXUALITY OR FEMININITY UNLESS THE
SAME CAN BE APPLIED FOR MEN IN THE
SAME SITUATION

• Sexy woman
C. USE “MAN” CORRECTLY

• 1. man as a verb
• in place of man instead use work, serve, operate staff
and run.
• We are going to man the booth.
We are going to supervise/watch the booth.
2. MAN AS PREFIX

• Sexist: mankind, manpower, man-

hours, man-made, manhole
• Non-sexist: humanity, human power,
work hours, artificial, utility covers.
3. MAN AS SUFFIX
• Sexist: chairman, spokesman,
salesman
• Non-sexist: chairperson, spokesperson,
salesperson
4. MAN AS PEOPLE

• Sexist: Frenchmen, Englishmen

• Non-sexist: English, French
5. “MAN” AS PUBLIC SERVANT

• Sexist: congressman, lady senator

• Non-sexist: legislator/ representative,
senator
D. USE PRONOUNS CORRECTLY
1. Use plural pronouns
Sexist: A child should learn to tie his own
shoe laces.
Non-sexist: Children should learn to tie
their own shoe laces.
2. OMIT THE PRONOUNS

Sexist: A politician likes to offer his opinion

Non-sexist: A politician likes to offer
opinion
3. CHANGE THE SUBJECT

Sexist: A lawyer who wants to win his case will

do his homework.
Non-sexist: Homework is important to the
lawyer who wants to win a case
4. USE A PASSIVE VOICE

• Sexist: The gardener uses his tolls in his work.

• Non-sexist: The gardener’s work is
accomplished with the use of tools
E. AVOID SEXISM BY ENDINGS AND
IMPLICATIONS

• Use neutral words.

• Sexist: usherette janitor
• Non-sexist: attendant sanitary officer
F. DEFINE WOMEN BY WHO THEY ARE,
NOT BY WHO THEIR FATHERS ARE

• Don’t use : Mr. and Mrs. Wil Mendoza instead

use Mr. Leo and Mrs. Wilma Mendoza
EXAMPLES:

• Sexist: Nancy, wife of George, is our

speaker.
• Non-sexist: Nancy, married to George, is
our guest speaker.
REFERENCES:

• Gender-Language: A Primer, University Center for

Women’s Studies, UP Diliman, Quezon City, 1998.
• Gender and Development Office, Cagayan State University