Non-sexist academic writing

What do we mean by sexist language? Basically, it's using language in a way that suggests that, for example, that one sex is more important than another, or that particular occupations are better suited to one sex or the other. For example:

• using he when you are referring to an individual who could equally well be a she
• referring to a policeman when police officer would be more appropriate
• using expressions like the pilot, he……
• similarly, the nurse, she ……
• using mother instead of parent
• suggesting in any way that certain jobs (salaried or otherwise) might be more suitable for one particular sex
• indicating in any way that men are the main breadwinners in the family
• referring to a particular sex where a book or article has been written by several authors, and where, for example, the first one is a man and your writing refers to he when in fact you should say they or the authors or the research team.

Non-sexist writing is something that you should develop. It might seem to some people that this is not an important point. The reality however, is that repetitive use of particular language can reinforce unhealthy stereotypes and strengthen prejudices of different kinds. It is important that this does not happen in a piece of academic writing. It is also very important to show the marker that you are not prone to make these stereotypical generalisations and that you are aware of these issues.

Task

Find alternatives for the sexist expressions in these sentences:

1. A researcher in this area is likely to experience difficulties and he may meet resistance.
2. It is clear that businessmen have to address the issue of computer crime far more seriously.
3. The authoress arrived on time for the presentation.
4. There is no doubt that men and women, as well as boys and girls, found the experience of travelling in Japan to be highly educational.
5. I now pronounce you man and wife!
6. The woman told the researcher that she had five girls working in the typing pool and three men in the store-room.
7. As Tickling (1998) has shown, Man was far better equipped to cope with the extremes of temperature than was first thought.
8. A recent economic survey (Openheimer, 1999) indicated that housewives responded far more rapidly than expected to price changes.
9. With the recent fall in prices and the rapid technological developments, a consumer is more likely to change his computer within three years.
10. The Kariba Dam is one of the largest man-made structures in Africa.

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Notes on the Task
1. A researcher in this area is likely to experience difficulties, and he may meet resistance.

• A researcher in this area is likely to experience difficulties, and he or she may meet resistance. 
• Researchers in this area are likely to experience difficulties and they may meet resistance. 

2. It is clear that businessmen have to address the issue of computer crime far more seriously.

• It is clear that business executives have to address the issue of computer crime far more seriously. 
• It is clear that business people have to address the issue of computer crime far more seriously. 

3. The authoress arrived on time for the presentation.

• The author arrived on time for the presentation. 

4. There is no doubt that men and women, as well as boys and girls, found the experience of travelling in Japan to be highly educational.

• There is no doubt that adults as well as children found the experience of travelling in Japan to be highly educational. 
• There is no doubt that women and men, as well as boys and girls, found the experience of travelling in Japan to be highly educational. 
• (Note: Don't automatically place male reference words in front of female reference words.) 

5. I now pronounce you man and wife!

• I now pronounce you husband and wife! 

6. The woman told the researcher that she had five girls working in the typing pool and three men in the store-room.

• The woman told the researcher that she had five women working in the typing pool and three men in the store-room. 

7. As Tickling (1998) has shown, Man was far better equipped to cope with the extremes of temperature than was first thought.

• As Tickling (1998) has shown, human beings were far better equipped to cope with the extremes of temperature than was first thought. 
• As Tickling (1998) has shown, humans were far better equipped to cope with the extremes of temperature than was first thought. 
• As Tickling (1998) has shown, people were far better equipped to cope with the extremes of temperature than was first thought. 

8. A recent economic survey (Openheimer, 1999) indicated that housewives responded far more rapidly than expected to price changes.

• A recent economic survey (Openheimer, 1999) indicated that consumers responded far more rapidly than expected to price changes. 

9. With the recent fall in prices and the rapid technological developments, a consumer is more likely to change his computer within three years.

• With the recent fall in prices and the rapid technological developments, consumers are more likely to change their computer within three years. 

10. The Kariba Dam is one of the largest man-made structures in Africa.

• The Kariba Dam is one of the largest constructions in Africa. 
• The Kariba Dam is one of the largest artificial structures in Africa. 
• The Kariba Dam is one of the largest engineering structures in Africa. 

Taken from HERE.