The hidden impact of gendered language

“Does the word ‘guys’ (the plural of ‘guy’) refer only to males, or can it refer to people of any gender?”

A few days ago, I received this question from a reader of this column. She wrote: “I found your explanation of the gender-neutral singular pronoun ‘they’ quite interesting. It made me wonder about other gender-neutral words used in English.”

It’s a good question. While guy as a singular typically refers to a boy or a man, the plural form (guys) is generally considered gender-neutral in informal conversation. It can refer to a group of people regardless of gender, as in this example: “Guys, I hope you understand the difference between gendered and gender-neutral words.”

PHOTO: Freepik

Comprehension time!

However, many advocates of gender-neutral language feel that the use of guys still reinforces male-centric language. They suggest alternatives such as everyone or folks, as in “Hey everyone” or “Hey folks.”

Read this imaginary news report:

An award-winning actress was rescued late Tuesday evening after her car skidded off the road and slid into Crystal Lake in the heart of Silverbrook.

According to a local waitress, who saw the accident from a nearby café, a speeding businessman lost control of his vehicle while attempting to overtake the actress’s car, forcing her to swerve. The car broke through a wooden barrier and rolled halfway into the shallow waters.

A patrolling policeman arrived at the scene within minutes, followed closely by a fireman from the Central Station. Eyewitnesses reported that a travelling salesman and a passing postman rushed forward to help before emergency services arrived.

A stewardess, who was jogging around the lake, immediately contacted authorities and assisted in calming bystanders. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Silverbrook Residents’ Association helped coordinate traffic until the road was cleared.

Later in the evening, a department spokesman confirmed that the actress suffered only minor injuries and was recovering at a private clinic.

Authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the accident.

What is your first impression of the report? Did you notice any occupational words that seem gender-specific? If not, read the report again before proceeding.

Give yourself a pat on the back if you identified words such as actress, waitress, businessman, policeman, fireman, postman, stewardess, chairman, salesman, and spokesman.

A server taking an order
| Photo Credit:
AP

Gender neutrality

These are examples of gendered words—terms that are associated with a particular gender and often reflect traditional societal roles and expectations.

But is it necessary to specify the gender of the people involved in this report? Your answer may depend on your perspective. However, even without indicating gender, the news would still communicate its essential message.

In many cases, gendered words can be replaced with gender-neutral alternatives. For example: actress → actor, waitress → server, businessman → business executive, policeman → police officer, fireman → firefighter, salesman → sales representative, postman → postal worker, stewardess → flight attendant, chairman → chairperson, spokesman → spokesperson. Using gender-neutral language helps make communication more inclusive while preserving clarity and meaning.

Now look at this conversation between X and Y:

X: Did you read my WhatsApp forward?

Y: No, I didn’t. What’s it about?

X: It’s about a waitress who was arrested by a policeman…

Y: A waitress? Why?

X: She slapped a young boy who made fun of her.

Y: How can a waitress slap a man? That’s terrible.

X: It is said that the boy also insulted the waitress.

Y: Nowadays, women don’t know how to behave.

What impact does the use of gendered words—waitress, policeman, man, and boy—have on society? These word choices carry significant social implications.

First, they reinforce gender stereotypes. The policeman is presented in a position of authority and control, while the waitress is implicitly framed as someone expected to be submissive, to tolerate humiliation, and to behave in a “proper” manner. The statement, “Nowadays, women don’t know how to behave,” suggests that women are expected to conform to socially prescribed standards of conduct. It reinforces the belief that men and women have fixed roles and predetermined behaviours.

The question, “How can a waitress slap a man?” implies that a woman is not expected to hit a man, regardless of what the man has done to her. It also assumes that a man inherently holds more power than a woman. This reflects deeper social assumptions about male dominance and female submissiveness.

Moreover, using words like waitress and policeman instead of gender-neutral terms such as server and police officer keeps gender distinctions visible even when gender is irrelevant to the incident. Over time, this repeated emphasis on gender makes it seem central to identity. It influences how both children and adults imagine professions.

This conversation illustrates how word choice shapes social thinking. Gendered language does not merely describe reality; it actively shapes it. Repeated exposure to such language strengthens stereotypes, influences expectations of behaviour, and can contribute to unequal treatment in workplaces and society at large.

Remya Sreekantan, a 28-year-old firefighter and the first woman firefighter in the Airports Authority of India, Southern Region.
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu

Moving towards gender-neutral language

Once, I asked my students at an engineering college to write a story using job titles such as doctor, nurse, police officer, pilot, professor, teacher, and cleaner. To my surprise, almost all of them portrayed pilots, doctors, professors, and police officers as men, while nurses, teachers, and cleaners were depicted as women.

What can we infer from this small experiment? It suggests that language not only reflects our worldview but also shapes it. The words we choose often reveal—and reinforce—our underlying attitudes and assumptions about gender roles.

If we want to reduce bias and promote inclusivity, we must pay attention to the language we use. Creating an equitable society begins with conscious communication. By choosing gender-neutral terms and avoiding stereotypical expressions, we can help foster a more inclusive and respectful environment for all.

(Dr Albert P’Rayan is an ELT resource person and education columnist. Send your feedback to englishmatters2024@gmail.com)

PHOTO: Freepik