Robie Allen G.

Belizon
BSEE - 2B

Reaction Paper: “Gender-fair Language”

This week’s topic includes lectures regarding Gender-fair language and its significance to
our society. To avoid confusion, bias, and discrimination against a specific gender, the meaning
behind the terms “Sexist”, “Gender discriminatory”, “Gender-biased”, “Gender-neutral”, and
“Gender-sensitive”, are differentiated and explained. The aforementioned terminologies all
have a prevalent meaning, which is to target a specific gender and make it the subject of
prejudice. To counteract this, we are then taught different strategies to avoid gender bias in a
language, such as the use of the correct lexical formations and Gender-fair Language (GFL). This
includes the use of a third person’s point of view in both writing and speaking, gender-neutral
phrases, inclusive or preferred personal pronouns, and the circumvention of gender
assumptions.

Having read the lecture material, I was unfamiliar with the use of Gender-fair language,
especially the different preferred pronouns a person might want to be associated with, such as
“ze” and “hir/zir”. I realized that a lot of phrases from the English language have a biased
toward men and often exclude women. Due to this, proper revisions, such as using gender-
neutral phrases must be applied to solve this problem. This lesson was definitely an eye-opener
for me. It widened my perspective against the discrimination that a lot of women and LGBTQ+
people experience daily. Although that is saddening to hear, there are a few ways that can help
alleviate this, such as, as discussed, the proper use of Gender-fair Language.

Due to the discrimination, sexism, and bias, that is currently present in the English
language, it is imperative that we, as students, learn about the root cause of these problems
and eliminate them through the use of Gender-fair Language. In doing so, we can create a
society that safely welcomes, appreciates, and cares for all kinds and types of people.
Robie Allen G. Belizon
BSEE - 2B

Direction: Determine the alternative to use on the following situations where women may be
subject to invisibility or omission.

Gendered examples Alternatives

Eachparticipant should submithispaperaweek
before themeeting.
The head of unit has to travelabroadoften.This
places a heavy burden on him and his family.
Under the law, all men are equal.
The second candidate was the best man for
the job.
This house is located in noman'slandbetween
two villages.
Toboldly gowhereno manhasgonebefore.
Inthefieldworkphaseof theprojecttheresearch
team is encouraged to talk to the man in the
street.
Eachparticipant should submittheir paperaweek
before themeeting.
The head of unit has to travelabroadoften.This
places a heavy burden on them and their family.
Under the law,everyoneisequal.
The second candidate was the best person for
the job
This house is located in a barren landbetween
two villages.
Toboldly gowhereno one hasgonebefore.
Inthefieldworkphaseof theprojecttheresearch
team is encouraged to talk to the person in the
street.

Direction: Determine the alternative to the following gendered common nouns.

Gendered nouns Alternatives

Businessman or businesswoman Businessperson
Chairwoman or chairman Chairperson
Female lawyer Legal Counselor
Policeman or policewoman Police Officer
Repairman Mechanic/Technician
Steward or Stewardess Flight Attendant
Salesman Salesperson
Workman Worker/Laborer
Man Person
Mankind Homo Sapiens
Spokesman Spokesperson
Manpower Work Force
Cameraman Cinematographer
Policeman Police Officer
Direction: Determine the alternative to the following common adjectives that carry a gender
connotation.

Gendered adjectives Alternatives

Bossy or pushy Officious
Emotional or hormonal Passionate
Ditsy Foolish
Frigid (no male equivalent) Unfeeling
Frumpy Unfashionable
Shrill Intrusive
Loose (no male equivalent) Laid back
Hysterical Agitated
Mumsy Old-fashioned
Virile Gallant

Direction: Turns of phrase which exclude women

Gender-discriminatory Better
Master of ceremonies Host/Moderator
A man’s home is his castle A person’s home is their castle
Best man for the job Best person for the job
Joe public General public
An Englishman, a Frenchman, and Irishman English, French, and Irish people
Gentlemen’s agreement Tacit agreement
Man-hour Workday
Workmanship Expertise
Statesman Statesperson
Mastermind Orchestrator
Countryman Citizen
Masterplan Blueprint
Brotherhood Fellowship/Companionship