SUU Writing center provided a material to lessen the use of gender-biased languages.
Example of sexist comment: Father, please practice softball techniques with your child.
The sentence show that sports and physical activities are associated with the father. The sentence also connotes that mothers can not perform such activities that is why the fathers are the one expected to perform the task.
Example of non-sexist comment: Parents, please practice the softball techniques with your child.
In the sentence, there is no longer any gender stereotype regarding which parent should perform the task of teaching their child sports. It also shows that the mother can also perform the task and that woman are no longer limited to domestic activities.
Example 2:
Gib Sheeree et al. (n.d) Gender Difference in educational achievement to age 25. Australian Journal of Education, Vol. 52, No. 1, 2008, 63–80
The article is about studying the gender differences in educational achievements of individuals who have been studying up to the age of 25. The participants of the study were 1265 individuals who fit the inclusion criteria of the study. The study revealed that there was a small but pervasive inclination of females scoring better than males in standardized tests and to achieve more in school. The study also mentioned academic attitude difference between male and females that could lead to the small difference in scoring. The study showed that males based on the commentary of their teachers are most likely to inattentive in class. The study shows the possible classroom intervention to address the attitude of students towards learning especially male students.
References:
Gib Sheeree et al. (n.d) Gender Difference in educational achievement to age 25. Australian Journal of Education, Vol. 52, No. 1, 2008, 63–80
SUU Learning Center (2009) Non-Sexist Language.
