Gender

The English language has a strong masculine bias. Make sure your writing uses inclusive language – for example, chair or chairperson instead of chairman. Always be on guard for inappropriate assumptions about gender.

Do not mention gender in relation to a particular role or position unless it is relevant to the meaning. In the example below, unless the interview is about women’s issues, it is irrelevant whether the Chief Medical Officer is a woman or a man. Examples of this type of discrimination are surprisingly common and must be avoided:

The Australian Chief Medical Officer, who is a woman, was interviewed by ABC television.

Some ways to eliminate a gender bias from writing are:

  • avoid stereotyping

Dr Joan Smith, an analytical chemist from Melbourne, has been appointed as director of the board.
not
Dr Joan Smith, a Melbourne mother of 3, has been appointed as director of the board.

  • use words such as staff or operate instead of man as a verb

staff the laboratory     operate the equipment

  • use words such as person or people rather than man

People cannot live without water
not
Man cannot live without water

Mr Smith was the chair   or   Mr Smith was the chairperson
not
Mr Smith was the chairman

If the trainee continues to show competence, they may be promoted.

The department is looking to appoint a person in their mid-twenties.

The mission statement should encompass everyone’s perception of their role.

  • eliminate the pronoun

An analytical chemist often has difficulty interpreting ambiguous data. Experiments can give unexpected results, which even an experienced scientist [not he] may not be able to fully explain.

  • rephrase the sentence

The trainee who continues to show competence after independent project work may be promoted to the position.
not
If, after independent project work, the trainee continues to show competence, he may be promoted to the position.

  • use terms such as men and women, male and female, ladies and gentlemen, and boys and girls in parallel ways

Samples were obtained from 15 students: 10 men and 5 women.
not
Samples were obtained from 15 students: 10 men and 5 girls.

The term lady is used as a courtesy title (Lady Smith) and as a polite form of address for women in general in phrases such as ladies and gentlemen. However, the association of lady with stereotypical roles for women means that woman is now the preferred term for a female adult:

I saw a woman walking down the street.
not
I saw a lady walking down the street.

Terms such as cleaning lady are particularly patronising and must be replaced with cleaner or similar. Similarly, avoid expressions such as She saw the lady doctor when She saw the doctor would suffice, or My doctor is a woman, unless it is important to convey this information.

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Do not mention sexual orientation or gender identity when it is not relevant. Portray people as individuals, rather than defining them by their sexual orientation or gender identity.

LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) or LGBTIQA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual) are broadly accepted terms that express a diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities.