British Sociological Association ~ Equality & Diversity ~ Sex and Gender [April 2004]
EQUALITY & DIVERSITY
Language and the BSA: Sex and Gender
The BSA grants free non-commercial use and non-commercial photocopying rights of these guidelines, to
promote good practice; we only ask that you acknowledge the BSA when you publish them.
It is BSA policy that non-sexist language should be used in its journals, in conference papers and in the
delivery of such papers at conferences and so on.
The following guidelines are intended to assist BSA members in avoiding sexist language by showing people
some of the forms it takes and by suggesting non-sexist alternatives. Language and terminology are
changeable and contested. Words can reinforce beliefs and prejudices, but can also be used to challenge
sexism. As such, it must be recognised that the meaning of these terms will be subject to revision and/or
change at a faster rate than these or any other guidelines or sources may be issued.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list or a definitive guide.
These guidelines should act as a prompt to social scientists and others to consider carefully their choice of
terminology and to consider the extent to which and the ways in which we either challenge or reproduce
inaccurate, sexist and heterosexist assumptions in our work. The guidelines will be relevant to teachers,
students and authors in sociology.
'He/Man' Language
Do not use 'man' to mean humanity in general. There are alternatives: Sexist - man/mankind, mankind;
Non-sexist - person, people, human beings men & women humanity humankind.
When references to both sexes is intended, a large number of phrases use the word man or other
masculine equivalents (e.g., 'father') and a large number of nouns use the suffix 'man', thereby excluding
women from the picture we present of the world. These should be replaced by more precise non-sexist
alternatives as listed below:
SEXIST
NON-SEXIST
man in the street
layman
man-made
the rights of man
people in general, people
lay person, non-expert
synthetic artificial manufactured
peoples'/citizens' rights; the rights of the
individual
chair
Supervisor
workforce staff, labour force, employees
craftsperson/people
staffing, working, running
everyone, unanimously, without exception
workhours
worker, working people
models of the person
one person show
police officer/ fire-fighter
ancestors
founders
classic art/artists
domineering; very skilful
top copy/original
Dear Sir/Madam
chairman
foreman
manpower
craftsman/men
manning
to a man
manhours
the working man
models of man
one man show
policeman/fireman
forefathers
founding fathers
old masters
masterful
master copy
Dear Sirs
1
British Sociological Association. A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England and Wales. Company Number: 3890729.
Registered Charity Number: 1080235.
The British Sociological Association, Bailey Suite, Palatine House, Belmont Business Park, Belmont, Durham, DH1 1TW.
www.britsoc.co.uk
British Sociological Association ~ Equality & Diversity ~ Sex and Gender [April 2004]
Disseminate
Seminal
broadcast, inform, publicise
classical, formative
The 'generic' 'man' is often accompanied by the 'generic' 'he'. The 'generic he' should be avoided. Both
feminine and masculine pronouns can be used where appropriate: he/she, s/he, his/her, etc. Alternative
strategies include the use of the plural, and the omission of third person pronouns entirely:
(A)
SEXIST: Each respondent was asked whether he wished to participate in the survey.
NON-SEXIST: Respondents were asked whether they wished to participate in the survey.
(B)
SEXIST: The child should be given ample time to familiarise himself with the test material.
NON-SEXIST: Ample time should be allowed for the child to become familiar with the test material.
Sexist language, apart from being offensive, may also mislead the reader, since it is frequently ambiguous.
For example, the use of 'he/man' language in a discussion about people may suggest that the
circumstances of the whole group are under consideration until statements like the following make it clear
that the group or the people are in fact men only: "hardly a week goes by without an 'untouchable' is
murdered or his house is burned or his wife is raped”.
When by 'he', 'men', etc. you do actually mean only men, it is advisable to make this explicit. 'Male
managers' or 'men executives' is less ambiguous than 'businessmen' which is either used 'generically' or
with the implicit assumption that all business personnel are male. Such careful, non-sexist use of language
helps in avoiding the mistake of referring to, e.g., 'managers and their wives'. Women managers do not
have wives!
Words with positive and negative connotations
The words 'boys' and 'gentlemen' are rarely used to refer to men in written work or speech. Nevertheless,
women continue to be referred to or spoken to as if they were a 'breed apart', e.g., 'mere women' 'ladies'
and/or as if they had not yet reached adulthood.
The use of such terms is often patronising and offensive and should be avoided. In written work it is
inaccurate to write 'young girls' when one is referring to teenage young women. In speech, terms like 'love'
and 'dear' also frequently cause offence and should similarly be avoided.
It is important to remember that whilst many of the words used to describe men are positive, words used to
describe women often have (some) negative connotations. Examples here include bachelor and spinster;
sir and madam. Some of the worst insults directed towards men make reference to women (e.g. ‘old
woman’, ‘son-of-bitch’) and some of the most offensive (directed at women and men) refer to women’s
genitalia.
The above guidelines are intended to encourage respect for women and to 'make women visible' in our
work.
2
British Sociological Association. A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England and Wales. Company Number: 3890729.
Registered Charity Number: 1080235.
The British Sociological Association, Bailey Suite, Palatine House, Belmont Business Park, Belmont, Durham, DH1 1TW.
www.britsoc.co.uk