Stop Sexism!

Sexism is defined by dictionary.com as “attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of sexual roles.”  Everyone knows that sexism is a big no-no in today’s politically-correct society, and most of us do a pretty good job of adhering to the new rules.

But some people have a harder time applying the “non-sexist” policy when it comes to writing. Somehow, when we’re referring to an unknown or generic individual and need a pronoun, that person suddenly becomes “he.” Are all business executives or airline pilots or professors male? Not anymore (if ever).

One of the problems with the English language is that there is no generic singular pronoun. And when we personify individuals as “he,” we’re subconsciously eliminating the idea of a female as a business executive, airline pilot or professor.

So, what can we do to avoid sexism in writing? Here are a few ideas:

1.  Make the noun and pronoun plural. Instead of “An individual must pass a rigorous test before he can become a pilot,” change to “Individuals must pass a rigorous test before they can become pilots.” NOTE that all referenced nouns and pronouns must be plural.

2. Replace “he” with “one.” Instead of “He should come prepared for the interview,” change to “One should come prepared for the interview.”

3. Use second person (“you”), if appropriate. Instead of “An individual must pass a rigorous test before he can become a pilot,” change to “You must pass a rigorous test before you can become a pilot.”

4. Use “he or she.” Instead of “A new employee must go through orientation before he reports to work,” change to “A new employee must go through orientation before he or she can report to work.” Caveat:  Overusing  “he or she” or its derivatives, including “he/she” and “s/he” (we suggest you avoid that at all costs) can be annoying to the reader. Use sparingly.

5. Eliminate the pronoun. Instead of “A new employee must go through orientation before he reports to work,” change to “A new employee must go through orientation before reporting to work.”

Before finalizing any document, re-read it, replacing sexist terminology using the above suggestions. It will take some time and effort to get used to, but until we come up with a gender-neutral pronoun, it’s the best we can do.