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Gendered language and why it matters

Gendered language and why it matters

Last year I proofread a children’s illustrated dictionary for a client. There was a double-page spread with pictures of boys and girls dressed for different professions. There were camera operators, ministers, nurses (girls), doctors (mainly boys), firemen (boys), and policewomen (girls). And this is why gendered language matters.

Sometimes when I’m working, my Spidey senses tingle before I’ve checked something. This was one of those times. Through training and reading Ciep’s guide to gendered language, I recognised the need to raise a query.

The State of Gendered Language

Sue Grey (developmental editor at O’Reilly Media) wrote an excellent article for the Ciep entitled The State of Gendered Language. She details how the world seems to be changing at an ever quicker pace. In some areas, this change is positive such as a reduction in sexism, homophobia, and transphobia but with every advancement, there is an inevitable backlash.

The powerful rarely relinquish without a fight. Controlling language is another way to control people. Women’s rights and freedoms are being threatened and eroded as a reaction to women’s advancement in the workplace and positions of power. The same is true of those from the LGBTQ+ community whose rights are being repealed and lives endangered just as many people become more accepting of difference.

Moving away from sexism

Gendered language is a contentious issue with many people. It follows that language needs to keep pace with society and adapt to better reflect its citizens.

Challenges to sexism in language began in the 1960s and 1970s. One of the first examples of this change was the wide acceptance of he and she rather than deferring to the male pronoun. From this we had the introduction of Ms to further support women.

Meanwhile, women were taking to the streets in their thousands demanding equal pay, paid childcare, and rights over their bodies. At the same time, gays, and other activists were asking to be recognised and treated with respect.

Simultaneously, people began to believe that descriptive titles needn’t be gendered. They asked questions such as do we need to gender the job description. Do we need to know if the person performing a role is male or female? If the answer is no, which is invariably is, then get rid of the gender label. Finding a gender-neutral alternative is easy.

Ooh look! It’s a male scientist!

There is a fantastic satirical page on Facebook, Man who has it all, who parodies the ridiculous advice self-help books, and the media, dole out to women. He tackles the prejudice of gendered language head on. In one post there is a photo of a male and female side by side; his t-shirt reads Male scientist whereas hers simply reads – scientist.

Essentially, the point being made illustrates that gendered labels are unnecessary. They help reinforce unhelpful stereotypes around gender roles: we don’t need policewomen, firemen, or postwomen. By gendering jobs, you are implying that the default is a male in that position.

Furthermore, it helps people assume that for someone not of that gender to perform that role is exceptional. This is especially evident when discussing certain career paths such as a male nurse or a female surgeon.

Some people may argue that there are greater challenges in the world to be concerned about but this is an important issue. There are many societies where women are still restricted from entering certain professions. And language whether overtly or not plays a role in societies expectations.

So, when we eradicate unhelpful gender labels, we are helping young people grow up with the expectation that all roles are open to them. That to be a physicist, politician, or CEO is possible however they identify.

We’ve eliminated gendered language – so we’ve won!

Sadly, we are not even close. While gender labels are being removed from English, there are still unhelpful stereotypes and examples of how language can be weaponised. Boys criticised for being sensitive and girls who are leaders labelled bossy are two such examples.

Issues with language and how different genders are spoken to persist. Politicians get asked questions that produce eye rolls on a regular basis. When Jacinda Arden and Finnish prime minister Sana Marin met last year, one male journalist fell short.

With a straight face, he asked two elected leaders of their respective countries if they were ‘meeting because you’re similar in age, and, you know, got a lot of common stuff?’

Arden countered with if he’d ever ask Barack Obama and John Key the same question. Meanwhile, Marin gave the withering reply, ‘We’re meeting because we’re prime ministers.’ The asinine nature of this question highlights that as a female you can lead your country yet still be undermined by someone talking to you as if you’re a teenager having a sleepover.

There are many other examples of how language is gendered or othered. Othering can also be noted by absence, sometimes research is conducted with only cis-gendered white men. Outcomes from this myopic view are still being felt among women and other disenfranchised groups.

When we other groups and only let one voice dominate, is it any wonder that many of us feel abandoned by institutions and locked out of policy. That’s why gendered language matters.

Sensitivity as a proofreader and editor

Part of the role of an editor is to help your clients understand accepted language usage and point out diplomatically when their writing could be amended. It’s fine, we all make mistakes and have our biases which is why checking your own writing can lead to issues as we are often unable to see our own ticks and bad habits.

That’s why hiring a good editor will help you avoid pitfalls and help to ensure readers don’t feel excluded.

As an editor, it is your job to be the widest audience for any discourse and advise your clients accordingly. Showing sensitivity promotes inclusion and that is what all writing should aim for.

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Why language matters

When Jewel sang, ‘I’m sensitive and I’d like to stay that way‘, I didn’t know this was every editor’s maxim. One of the most exciting aspects of language is how it is in a constant state of flux. This is why language matters.

Slang: proceed with caution

Nothing marks you out as being more desperate than when you use language that is the preserve of the young. As my fourteen-year-old would say, “Cringe!”

Am I offended?

The meaning of words develops and alters over time. What were once playground slurs, can look appallingly crass in hindsight. If I’m being honest, they probably didn’t look that great then either.

As our understanding of ourselves and each other grows, it is important to revise the language we use to refer to one another. Some argue we have become too sensitive, but it is when words are misused that we get into trouble. Most people agree that this is why language matters.

Copy editors

A good copy editor watches for these language bombs and finds a way to defuse them: tactfully.

Being different isn’t a problem; disrespecting difference is problematic

Many groups feel marginalised or misrepresented in society. For hundreds of years, power was in the hands of one dominant group: the wealthy, white, cisgender, male. They dictated everything in society from how women, the LGBTQ+ community, non-white, differently-abled, and the neurodivergent were described for as long as they held power. Some would say little has changed. This is why language matters.

Does it matter how we refer to others?

Well yes, it does. How people are described, feeds into how they are treated and helps shape their identity and sense of self-worth. There is an easy mantra to follow: if in doubt, check it out.

Archetypes are easy to use but lack nuance

This is good to bear in mind when editing anything. Always ask yourself, Who is the audience? How will this piece of copy be received? Words ascribed to people and how they are portrayed, especially in the media, favor archetypes. They act as a shorthand for the reader or viewer. That’s because it is easy to group people with aspects of their identity together in one, homogenous group, but it is lazy. It takes no effort to categorize groups in this way, but the impact felt is negative helping reinforce stereotypes.

We used to chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I didn’t believe it as a child, and I don’t believe it now. Words matter – they have the power to hurt and damage.

They’re a bit sensitive

Some in the LGBTQ+ community, have reclaimed the word queer, while others, especially some older members, still recoil at memories of homophobia. There is a word that the black community has reclaimed, but it must only be used by members of that community.

This is just a snapshot of words and their power but the sentiment should remain; it is important to be sensitive when referring to groups that are not part of your lived experience.

Authenticity matters

As Louise Harnby comments in The Editing Podcast with Nick Taylor on LGBTQ+ editing, “It is about authenticity rather than sensitivity; sensitivity can imply negativity and hurt…we’re actually looking for realism.” There are voices that you should ask to check over your copy to avoid clumsy stereotypes and tired cliches.

It is important to get pronouns right, and it is becoming easier with guides appearing online and through reputable organisations, such as the Ciep.

For an informative, lively discussion on sensitivity readers with Crystal Shelley, check out episode 62 of the above-mentioned podcast.

What does this mean for the writer?

The easiest solution is to reach out to someone from the community you are writing about and ask them to read through your copy before you publish. This is easier with a novel than with a newspaper feature that, by its nature, has a short lead time.

If you don’t know anyone, and you are concerned, for example, that referring to someone with ADHD as mentally ill might be offensive: hire a sensitivity/authenticity reader to avoid any obvious pitfalls.

What does this mean for an editor?

For a fiction or non-fiction editor, it would be a query raised with the author. A gentle nudge or suggestion pointing out that what they’ve written could cause offense. Sometimes, to be offensive is the point of the writing from the perspective of a character, but it can be when someone is relying on lazy tropes they get in trouble.

How can editors challenge language?

If we are editing a newsletter, which refers to ancient inhabitants of a home we might pause to consider if this is insulting. One idea is to practise compassion and empathy. What would I think if I saw that in print and I lived in a residential home? How would I feel seeing a parent or grandparent dismissed in those terms? Consider these questions, and then make suggestions to the writer based on them. If you are a sub-editor, you probably have the power to change the words yourself without the need for consultation.

When to leave copy alone

In some circumstances, leaving controversial language in a text makes sense. If it is a psychological or sociological study and you are reporting people’s use of profanity or slurs, then it should be okay. It would be important to make clear that these words could be offensive and are not the author’s words.

If you are reporting spoken words in a newspaper article, or the words of a provocative character in a novel that may be permitted. It is important to consider the context when choosing which words to use. You can also use euphemisms if you are really concerned.

Is that normal?

What if a writer refers to normal behaviour? Which infers anyone deviating from this is abnormal. Would I flinch to see someone whose brain works differently being described as weird, strange, or too much? Could I recognise that this is unhelpful and inaccurate? Some of the most neurodivergent people in the world are also some of the most creative and inspiring.

David Bowie and ADHD

David Bowie once said in an interview that if he’d been at school today, he would be labelled as having ADHD. Let’s face it, he did pretty well out of being different and following many ideas such as painting, acting, producing, and most successfully, performing and songwriting. Not all these activities succeeded, but I admire that he never limited himself and followed divergent passions.

If it’s good enough for a polymath like Bowie, perhaps we should all consider how we refer to those who differ from us and not other them.

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Why do I need a proofreader?

If you write an article, blog, leaflet or memo about an area that you know well, you can give it a quick read through and publish. What could go wrong? Why do I need a proofreader? Proofreaders are the people that exist in the shadows. They are the ones that take a piece of well-written writing and elevate it into something better (that’s what a good editor does but more of that in another blog post).

A proofreader provides the final checks on your copy. Their motto is: consistency and error free, or it should be. They will agonise over a misplaced comma; wrestle over capitalisation; and, frequently, deal with the misuse of words including homophones.

What are homophones?

Homophones are words which are pronounced the same way but spelt differently and have different meanings. Many writers, even good ones, occasionally get tripped up by homophones. Spell checkers and online grammar tools are a great support to any writer, but they often miss homophones and if you don’t want too (see what I did there) miss them, your copy should be checked carefully.

There, their,they’re. Don’t worry

Auditorily, they are identical, but there meaning is completely different.

There is no doubt clear writing matters

There is an adverb used to indicate place and direction, which can be used as a prepositional phrase, or a pronoun. If in doubt, consider how you would use each ‘there’ in a sentence to help avoid confusion or mistakes. Dan is over there next to the linesman.

Their love for one another was found in those small moments of intimacy

Their is a possessive pronoun which means ‘belonging to them’. As I tell my students, their contains the word ‘heir’ to show ownership. Their idea of the perfect holiday was lying on a golden beach drinking margaritas as the kids played in the surf.

They’re two of the best people I know

The final ‘they’re’ is the easiest to conquer as it is a contracted form of two words: they + are. They’re always late, so we should start eating without them.

If you are still asking yourself, Why do I need a proofreader? (I’m asking this question AGAIN for SEO reasons). It is to help you focus on your message, but be reassured that your copy is error free. Proofreaders can ensure you are using language accurately so your writing and message is clear.

For clearer copy visit Clear Copy UK.