How to Eliminate or Avoid Sexism/Sexist Language

GUIDELINES :

1.Use plural nouns and eliminate the singular personal pronouns (third person )
like –HE,HIS,HIM ,SHE,HER and HERS .

2. Use the plural personal pronouns They,Their and Them (third person ), We
and Us (first person ) and You and Your (second person) OR Use both she/he
or her/his but they can be used sparingly.
* She has made her speech logical .
R- She /he has made her/his speech logical. OR They have made their speech/es
logical.

* The doctor called today to see if his patient’s condition had improved with
the medication.
R- The doctors called today to see if their patient’s condition had improved with
the medication OR…(The doctor called today to see if the patient’s condition had
improved with the medication).
*If the student wants a good grade, he must study his lessons well.
R- If students want good grades, they must study their lessons well. OR
R- If a student wants a good grade, you must study your lessons well. OR
R-If you want a good grade, you must study your lessons well.

3. Delete or eliminate he,his,him,she and her and replace them with articles
(A, An and The) or use the passive voice of the verb.
Example: *The speaker makes her speech brief.
R- The speaker makes her/his speech brief. OR
R – The speech is made brief.
*The teacher called her students’ parents to monitor their sons and daugh-
ters.
R- The teacher called the parents to monitor their sons and daughters . OR
(The teacher called the students’ parents to monitor their children.)OR
(The teacher called the students’ parents to monitor the children).
*He has made his explanation clear.
R-They have made the explanation clear.OR You made your explanation clear.
4. Avoid the generic use of “man”. Replace it with gender-neutral word/term.
Example: Firemen –firefighters Patrolman – patrol officer ,police officer
 Fisherman – fisher, fisherfolk , angler
Cameraman – camera operator , photographer
Sawman- sawyer, woodcutter Seaman -Seafarer
Businessman – business person ,business executive
Man-made- artificial,synthetic, handcrafted
Manhole - maintenance hole
5.Eliminate sexism when addressing persons formally by:
A. using Ms. instead of Miss or Mrs. Even when a woman marital status is
known.
B.Using the corresponding title for females -Ms. Dr. Prof. whenever a title is approp-
riate for males.
6. Using ‘ Dear Colleague’ or ‘Dear Editor or Professor ‘ instead of “Dear Sir or Gentleman “ in letters
to unknown persons or by using ‘To Whom This May Concern’.

7. Eliminate the gendered title: Female nurse (Nurse) Male nanny –(nanny ) Lady guard –(Guard)

8. Use euphemisms if necessary. Example: Surveyor = Geodetic Engineer

Mentally –retarded = Special or exceptional child.
9.Avoid using nouns with affixes like : -ss -ine ,o r , etc.
Example:

Masculine Feminine Gender-neutral

Actor Actress Actor

Heir Heiress Heir

Waiter Waitress Waiter , server
Steward Stewardess Steward ,Flight Attendant
Sorcerer Sorceress Sorcerer
Aviator Aviatrix Aviator
Hero Heroine Hero
Poet Poetess poet
sssPatron Patroness Patron
Host Hostess Host