GADSPEAK: GENDER

FAIRNESS IN LANGUAGE
USE

HILTON J. AGUJA, Ph. D.

National GAD Resource Pool (NGRP – B6),
Philippine Commission on Women
 Session objectives

Be aware of the legal mandate on

gender fair language use.

Learn the techniques in making

language use gender fair.

Have a hands-on in applying the

techniques learned.
CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 1 s2015.
Establishing the Policies and Guidelines on gender and development
in the Commission on Higher Education and Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs)

Section 4: …HEIs shall make available to

their students non-sexist textbooks and
other academic materials in history,
sociology, psychology, engineering,
environment and all other academic
programs approved by CHED. Faculty
members shall develop gender-fair learning
materials that use gender-sensitive
language.
 THE MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN (RA 9710)
August 14, 2009

SEC. 13. Equal Access and Elimination of

Discrimination in Education, Scholarships,&
Training.

(a)Ensure that gender stereotypes and

images in educational materials and
curricula are revised.
(b)Gender-sensitive language shall be used.
(c)Capacity-building on GAD, peace and
human rights, for teachers.
 LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4 LEVEL 5
Foundation Installation of GAD Commitment Replication
Formation Strategic Application Enhancement and and
Mechanisms Institutionalization Innovation

1.1 Policies 2.1 Policies 3.1 GAD 4.1. GAD policies 5.1 Gender
articulating
support to GAD
Mandates and
Policies issued by the
reflecting the
organization’s
interest for gender
agenda/Strat
egic
Framework
of the organization
resulted in
bridging gender
responsive
policies
replicated by
establishing four
essential organization use
mainstreaming
issued (GFPS,
on GAD
adopted by
gaps clients
(internal and
other
organizations
elements of GAD GMEF Training) the external) as models or
Planning and
Budgeting issued
 
gender-fair
2.2 Policies
organization
4.2. Policies
standard

  addressing the 3.2 continually

1.2 Existing
policies reviewed
language and
gender needs of
the clients
Organizationa developed and/or
l and sectoral enhanced based on

images
for consistency (internal and plans the results of
with emerging external) of the integrated gender analysis
GAD issues and organization issued with GAD
issuances (ASHA, VAWC) perspective 4.3 Vision, mission
accordingly   and goals of the
  2.3 Policies issued 3.3 Sector organization
1.3 Broad by the organization specific GAD integrated with
statements of use gender-fair policies GAD perspective
intentions or language and formulated by
aspirations the
reflecting the
images organization
organization’s
 LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4 LEVEL 5
Foundation Installation of GAD Application Commitment Replication and
Formation Strategic Enhancement and Innovation
Mechanisms Institutionalization

International/ GAD agenda and/or strategic
national /local GAD- GAD framework formulated
related events
observed by the GAD Plan and Budget (GPB)
developed is based on the GAD
organization
agenda, emerging issues, new
international and national GAD
GAD orientation mandates and result of gender
and GST conducted
analysis
for the organization’s
clients (internal and Existing
2.3 GAD deepening sessions
external) based on results of TNA or
3.1 Implementation of GAD 4.1 Implementation and a GAD learning hub
mandates, policies and monitoring of for its notable gender
PAPs monitored international, national mainstreaming efforts
and local GAD mandates
Organization’s GPB and sustained and 5.2 Convergence
GAD AR prepared, timely institutionalized in the model resulting from
submitted and endorsed organization programs partnerships
recognized and
information,
Capacity development
on GAD conducted and
4.2 Sector specific GAD
capacity sessions
replicated by other
organizations

1.3 Consultations with

education
updated GAD policies and tools
conducted
sustained campaign
for clients
(internal and external)
conducted for clients
(internal and external) 5.3 GAD knowledge
2.4 GA tools applied (IEC) materials
clients (internal and products used and
in selected
external) to identify 3.4 Capacity development o 4Application of GA tools adopted by other
programs and in the review and
gender issues and
corresponding
implementation of PAPsreviewed expertscted
andGADrevised
develop internal toPAPs
in agency
including ODA-funded
organizations
strategies conducted
ensure
2.5 Facilities and services that
address gender issues and
use of gender
3.5 GA tools regularly
projects institutionalized 5.4 Existing
award/incentive
external) establishedsensitive applied inlanguage and
1.4 Consultations with concerns of clients (internal and
PCW and relevant and the development 4.4 Sustainability action system of the
organizations/ implemented planning cycle plan of GAD efforts organization
Existing
information,
images
2.6 Orientation module for GAD website regularly
developed integrated with GAD
perspective
employees with gender
education
sensitivity as core
updated 4.5 Impact evaluation of
campaign (IEC) competency developed GAD mainstreaming
materials reviewed 3.7 Organization’s efforts conducted
and revised to 2.7 IEC materials on GAD for knowledge management
ensure use of target audience (internal and system as a mechanisms
gender sensitive exwebsite created, updated and
for knowledge transfer of
language and accessible.
images GAD-related knowledge
products set-up
Newspeak was not only to provide
expression for the world view and
mental habits proper to the desired
social order, but to make all other
modes of thought impossible.

When Newspeak had been adopted and

Oldspeak forgotten, a heretical thought
– that is, a thought diverging from the
declared principles of society - should
be literally unthinkable, at least so far
as thought is dependent on words.
 Tenets of Genderlect
 Why we communicate:

connection They engage

Women seek connection.
in communication to build and maintain
relationships with others.

Men seek status.

status They are more likely
to engage in talk only when it makes
them look good, strong, competitive, or
independent.
 
 Tenets of Genderlect

 Style of Communicating:

Women use rapport talk. They express

emotions, share personal feelings,
relate stories and listen emphatically.

Men use report talk. They engage in

competitive joking and assertive
speech that wins control of the
conversation.
Norman Fairclough (1989), one of the founders
of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in
Sociolinguistics looked at how power is
exercised through language.

Muted Group Theory. Inequality in gender

relations in language.

“ women are not as free or as able as men are

to say what they wish, when and where they
wish, because the words and the norms for
their use have been formulated by the
dominant group- men” (Kramarae, 1981).
 WOMEN AS A SECTOR BECOMES
INVISIBLE DUE TO LANGUAGE BIAS.
It becomes manifest that man-
made language aids in defining,
depreciating and excluding women.

Consequently, women and men use

language differently, so much so
that Tannen (1990) proposed the
idea men and women are actually
speaking different dialects or
genderlects.
Each gender has its own set of vocabulary
and preferred topics, and they use spoken
language differently:

Men talk to get things done (instrumental

approach);

Women talk to interact with others

(relational approach).

Sexism as a pervading ideology is embedded

in the language structure which subtly
perpetuates the notion of gender inequality.
 SEXISM IN LANGUAGE
The power structure of male
dominance in society is
maintained via language.

Linguistic practices
must change to be gender fair!
SOME SUGGESTIONS ON
HOW
TO USE NON-SEXIST
LANGUAGE
 SC ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR, S.
2006

TO : ALL Justices, Judges, and

Employees of the Judiciary

Subject : (USE OF NON-SEXIST

LANGUAGE IN ALL OFFICIAL
DOCUMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND
ISSUANCES)

Quoting Memorandum Circular No. 12, s. 2005 of the CSC.

1. Eliminate the generic use of he, his, or
him unless the antecedent is obviously
male by:
a. Using plural nouns

TRADITIONAL :The lawyer uses his

brief to guide him.

SUGGESTED : The
lawyers use their brief
to guide them.
b. Deleting he, his, and him 
altogether. Reword if necessary

TRADITIONAL : The architect

uses his blueprint to guide him.

SUGGESTED : The
architect uses a
blueprint as a guide.
c. Articles (a, an, the) for his;
using who instead of he

TRADITIONAL : The writer should

know his readers well.

SUGGESTED : The
writer should know
the readers well.
d.Using one, we, or you

TRADITIONAL : As one grows

older, he becomes more reflective.

SUGGESTED: As one
grows older, one
becomes more
reflective.
e. Using the passive voice

TRADITIONAL : The manager

must submit his proposal today.

SUGGESTED : The
proposal must be
submitted by the
manager today.
2. Eliminate the generic use of MAN.
Instead,use people, person(s), human(s), 
human being(s), humankind, humanity, 
the human race.

TRADITIONAL :
ordinary man,
mankind, the
brotherhood of man
SUGGESTED :
ordinary people,
humanity, the
human family
3. Eliminate sexism in symbolic representations
of gender in words, sentences, and texts by:
a. Taking the context of the word, analysing its
meaning, and eliminating sexism in the concept

TRADITIONAL : feelings of brotherhood, feelings

of fraternity
SUGGESTED : feelings of
kinship, solidarity
TRADITIONAL : the founding
SUGGESTED fathers
: the founders,
the founding leaders
TRADITIONAL : the Father of
SUGGESTED relativity
: theory the founder of
relativity theory, the initiator of
relativity theory
 b. Finding precise words to delineate the thing itself
from supposedly sex-linked characteristics

TRADITIONAL : Titanic was a great ship,

but she now rests at the bottom of the sea.

SUGGESTED : Titanic was a great

ship, but it now rests at the bottom
of the sea
TRADITIONAL : “Don’t let Mother
Nature rip you off! She’s out to kill
your car’s new finish.... Stop her...”
SUGGESTED : “Don’t let nature rip
you off” It’s out to kill your car’s
finish... Stop it...”
4. Eliminate sexual stereotyping of roles by:
a. using the same term for both genders when
it comes to profession or employment

TRADITIONAL : salesman, stewardess

SUGGESTED : sales agent, flight

attendant
b. using gender fair terms in lexical terms

TRADITIONAL : sportsmanship

SUGGESTED : highest ideals of

fair play
Treating men and women in a
parallel manner
TRADITIONAL :
I now pronounce you man and wife.

SUGGESTED:
I now pronounce you husband and wife.
d. Avoiding language that reinforces
stereotyping images

TRADITIONAL : a man’s job,

the director’s girl Friday

SUGGESTED: a big job,

the director’s assistant
e. Avoiding language that catches attention to the sex
role of men and women

TRADITIONAL : working mothers, (why?)

spinsters or old maids
SUGGESTED : wage-earning
mothers, unmarried women

TRADITIONAL : busboys, chauvinist

pigs

SUGGESTED : waiter’s assistants,

male chauvinists
5. Eliminate sexism when addressing persons
formally by:

a. Using Ms. Instead of Mrs.

TRADITIONAL: Mrs. dela Cruz
SUGGESTED : Ms. dela Cruz

b. Using a married woman’s first name instead of her

husband’s

TRADITIONAL: Mrs. Juan dela Cruz

SUGGESTED : Ms. Maria Santos-dela Cruz
c. Using the corresponding titles for females

TRADITIONAL : Dra. Concepcion Reyes

SUGGESTED : Dr. Concepcion Reyes

d. Using the title of the job or group in letters to

unknown persons

TRADITIONAL : Dear Sir

SUGGESTED : Dear Editor, Dear
Credit Manager, Dear Colleague

[SC Administrative Circular issued by MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMA, Clerk of Court]

Simple efforts to change the
way we speak and write can
go a long way in eliminating
age old gender based
prejudices.
THE CHOICE IS OURS TO
MAKE. WHATEVER WE DO
OR FAIL TO DO TODAY
WILL SPELL THE KIND OF
FUTURE THAT WE SHALL
PASS ON TO THE
GENERATIONS YET
UNBORN.
 Thank

you

It is always the right time to start walking

the talk.
And now the
workshop!
 That’s one small step for
man but one giant leap for
mankind.
-Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11, July 20, 1969.
For evil to triumph, it is
enough for good men to
do nothing.
-Edmund Burke.
Due to security breach, the female
wing of the prison was
compromised resulting to many
female inmates to escape.
Immediately the prison warden
ordered a massive manhunt
operation.
 Incoming freshmen
students must undergo
search and rescue
training.
A student must always be
in good academic
standing. To stay in the
program, he/she must
maintain a GPA of 1.75 or
better.
 The new chairman of
the board is related to
the president.
No man is an
island.
 The robbers entered
through the manhole.
 If you dream of
becoming a fireman,
you must be in
excellent health
condition.
Being a soldier is a
man’s job.
Man by nature is a
political animal.
- Aristotle
Our manpower needs
indicate that we have
to hire more teachers.
in the MVG of one Institution:

“To serve as a catalyst for

change to upgrade the
Research and Extension
manpower capabilities,
facilities and institutions.”
 Oath of office , President
 
I,_______________, do solemnly
swear [or affirm] that I will
faithfully and conscientiously fulfill
my duties as President of the
Philippines, preserve and defend its
Constitution, execute its laws, do
justice to every man, and
consecrate myself to the service of
the Nation.
Lawyer's Oath . I, do solemnly swear that I will
maintain allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines
I will support the Constitution and obey the laws as
well as the legal orders of the duly constituted
authorities therein;  I will do no falsehood, nor
consent to the doing of any in court; I will not
wittingly or willingly promote or sue any groundless,
false or unlawful suit, or give aid nor consent to the
same; I will delay no man for money or malice, and
will conduct myself as a lawyer according to the best
of my knowledge and discretion, with all good
fidelity as well to the courts as to my clients; and I
impose upon myself these voluntary obligations
without any mental reservation or purpose of
evasion. So help me God.
Exec Order No. 292, SECTION 40. —All public
officers and employees of the government
including every member of the armed forces
shall, … take an oath or affirmation to uphold
and defend the Constitution; that he will
bear true faith and allegiance to it; obey the
laws, legal orders and decrees promulgated
by the duly constituted authorities; will
faithfully discharge to the best of his ability
the duties of the office or position upon
which he is about to enter; and that he
voluntarily assumes the obligation imposed
by his oath of office, without mental
reservation or purpose of evasion. July 25, 1987
 Pledge of Loyalty to the Alma Mater
In grateful recognition of the opportunities
afforded me by _____ …and the Republic of
the Philippines, I hereby pledge to dedicate
myself to the continuing search for truth and
knowledge; to strive for the improvement of
the common man; to discipline my will so as
to elevate and preserve high moral and
spiritual life all for the service of my country,
humanity, and God.
Thank

you
 What makes language gender fair?
When do you say that language is not
gender fair?

Fair bespeaks of balance. Balance

requires equality of weight and
measure.
Language is gender fair when renditions of
alluded categories (man, woman) are
independently reckoned where neither
category subsumes the other and neither
acquires primacy over the other in being
articulated, thus becoming capable of being
seen and be recognized in its own right. It
also involves freedom from attribution of
sex-linked characteristics or features
grounded on stereotypes and gender
scripts.

HJA/July 26, 2019, terminal 2, NAIA

Thank

you

Let us WALK the TALK .