Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM

Rodriguez, Rizal
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK
College
nd
2 Semester 2023-2024
Semester
BSSW 2B
Year and Section
Social Work and Communication and Documentation
SUBJECT: SWP 5
Topic 10: Guidelines for Using Gender Sensitive Language in Reporting and Writing

Name of Reporters: Name of Instructor:

1. Espiño, Patricia
2. Labis, Chrisame Ms. Jelly I. Delos Santos, RSW
3. Mati-ong, Selwyn Howard
4. Solis, Gerald
Reporting Outline:
1. Policy Mandate on the Use of Gender The 5Ws of Gender-Sensitive
Fair Language Journalism
2. Language and Gender 6. Five Key Principles of Gender-Sensitive
3. Sexism in Language Reporting
4. Guidelines for Non-Sexist Writing 7. Five principles of conflict-sensitive
5. What is Gender-Sensitive Reporting? reporting
8. Reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based
Violence

Policy Mandate on the Use of Gender Fair Language

CSC Memorandum Circular No. 12, s. 2005
• Issued pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 050433 (March 30, 2005)
• Encourages government officials and employees to use non-sexist language in all its official documents,
issuances and communications
Why is there a need to use non-sexist language?
• Language is an essential tool in communication
• Language articulates consciousness, reflects culture and affects socialization
• There is a need to recognize the importance of transforming language from traditional usage to a more
liberating one, that which is gender sensitive

Language and Gender

Women Vs Men Realities in Language
Reality 1
WOMEN MEN
 talk more than men, talk too much, are  men swear more, don't talk about emotions,
more polite, are indecisive/hesitant, talk about sports more, talk about women
complain and nag, ask more questions, and machines in the same way, insult each
support other frequently, are competitive in
each other, are more co-operative conversation, dominate conversation, speak
with more authority, give more commands,
interrupt more.
Women’s language (Lakoff , 1975)
 Hedge: using phrases like “sort of”, “kind of”, “it seems like”, and so on.
 Use (super)polite forms: “Would you mind...”,“I'd appreciate it if...”, “...if you don't mind”.
  Use tag questions: “You're going to dinner, aren't you?”
 Speak in italics: intonational emphasis equal to underlining words so, very, quite.
 Use empty adjectives: divine, lovely, adorable, and so on
 Use hypercorrect grammar and pronunciation: English prestige grammar and clear enunciation.
 Use direct quotation: men paraphrase more often.
 Have a special lexicon: women use more words for things like colours , men for sports.
 Use question intonation in declarative statements: women make declarative statements into questions
by raising the pitch of their voice at the end of a statement, expressing uncertainty. For example,
“Where do you work? DENR?”
 Use “ wh --” imperatives: (such as, “Why don't you open the door?”)
 Speak less frequently
 Overuse qualifiers: (for example, “I think that...”)
 Apologize more: (for instance, “I'm sorry, but I think that...”)
 Use modal constructions: (such as can, would, should, ought --“Should we turn on the air
conditioned unit?”)
 Avoid coarse language or expletives
 Use indirect commands and requests: (for example, “My, isn't it cold in here?” really a request to
close a window)
 Use more intensifiers: especially so and very (for instance, “I am so glad you came!”)
 Lack a sense of humour : women do not tell jokes well and often don't understand the punch line of
jokes.
Reality 2

Source: National GAD Resource Program Philippine Commission on Women

MEN AND WOMEN INTERACTION

General Styles
 Men tend to be more competitive and less supportive of others
 Women are more cooperative.
Feedback
 Women provide more encouraging feedback.
Women’s gossip
 Description
- Easy and idle in-group talk in informal contexts
 Function
- To affirm solidarity
 - To maintain the social relationships
Linguistic features of the gossip
 Propositions which express feelings are often intensified.
 Complete each other’s utterances, agree frequently, and provide supportive feedback.
Sexism in Language
 Use of language which devalues members of one sex, almost invariably women, and thus fosters
gender inequality
 Discriminates against women by rendering them invisible or trivializing them at the same time that it
perpetuates notions of male supremacy
 Social inequality reflected in language can powerfully affect a child’s later behavior and beliefs.
 Language shapes our thought processes.
 To eliminate sexism, it is better to eliminate "sexist" forms from our language.
 A change in language should evolve organically from change in public attitudes towards gender
issues, rather than be achieved either by enforcement or by persuasion.
As to Form…
 Marginalizes women and creates the impression of, and reflects, a male-dominated society.
 Makes women invisible.
Advocates point out that language is rich in alternatives that speakers and writers can use
without impinging on the effectiveness of communication. They are also able to be true to
their notions of grammatical propriety.
As to Substance…
 Can perpetuate inaccurate and biased stereotypes about what men and women are supposed
to be [ e.g. g., chairman, statesman, congressman, fireman.]
 Insensitive language may be an unintended form of discrimination based on a "lack of
awareness" which is not justifiable/acceptable.
Gender stereotypes have the effect of limiting and trivializing females and males. They present an
inaccurate view of the world and its possibilities.

KINDS OF SEXIST LANGUAGE

1. Language that excludes women or renders them invisible
a. The use of the generic masculine – man, father, brother, master
Why is this a problem?
• The writer misrepresents groups that include women.
b. The use of the singular masculine pronouns – he, his, him
Why is this a problem?
• The writer misrepresents the referent as a male, and the identity of the gender is irrelevant to
the information being presented.

Although MAN in its original sense carried the dual meaning of adult human and adult
male, its meaning has come to be so closely identified with adult male thus, the generic
use of MAN and other words with masculine markers should be avoided.
Because English has no generic singular or common sex pronoun, HE, HIS, and HIM
have been used in expressions like

c. Terms ending in man to refer to functions that may be performed by individuals of either sex
Why is this a problem?
• There are functions which apply to individuals of either sex or both sexes
• It reflects gender inequality in that women are never seen in terms of general or
representative humanity
2. Language that trivializes women or diminishes their stature
 • Use of sex-linked modifiers
Why is this a problem?
• It sounds gratuitous, is patronizing, and suggests that the norm for some occupations is
for a particular sex
3. Language which disparages and marginalizes women (or persons of another gender)
4. Language that fosters unequal relations
• Lack of parallelism (e.g. Man and Wife)
• The use of terms that call attention to a person’s sex in designating occupations, positions,
roles, etc (e.g. Motherhood, Fatherhood)
5. Gender polarization of meanings in the use of adjectives
• The terms womanly, manly, feminine, masculine depict each sex as being solely
associated with particular attributes (e.g. Forceful men are seen as charismatic, while
forceful women are labelled domineering.)
• In the history of the English language, negative or sexually derogatory meanings accrue
to words referring to woman, but not to equivalent words for man. (e.g. Mistress,
Hostess)
6. Lexical gap
• In the English language, there is an absence or lack of words that refer to women’s
experiences (e.g. We refer to men’s “virility”, but there is no equivalent word for
women’s experience.)
7. Hidden assumptions
• The disparity in our reactions to some statements reflects our shared assumptions or our
internalized model of the world we live in where women are locked in gender roles. (e.g.
Men can care for children just as well as women.)
8. Metaphors which reflect a male-centered view of the world or portray women as objects
Metaphors which refer to women as:
Merchandise, something to be eaten: sugar, honey,
cheesecake
Small animals: chick, bunny

Guidelines for Non-Sexist Writing

1. To be inclusive, writers and presenters must use both HE and SHE , and they must consciously
balance pronoun use by sometimes reversing their order.
2. Sometimes it is possible to drop the possessive form his altogether or to substitute an article.
3. Often, it makes sense to use the plural instead of the singular.
4. The first- or second person pronoun can sometimes be substituted for the third person.
5. In some situations, the form one/one’s can be substituted for he/his, but this construction should be
used sparingly to avoid changing the tone of the writing.
6. A sentence with he or his can sometimes be recast in the passive voice. Although the passive voice
has been much maligned, it has a valid function if not overused.
7. A sentence with he or his can be recast by substituting a particular phrase for a clause.
8. When the subject is an indefinite pronoun, a number of option exist.
a. Recast the sentence to avoid using the indefinite pronoun.
b. Use both pronouns (he or she; her or his)
c. Use the plural pronoun when the indefinite referent is clearly understood to be plural.
d. Use the singular they/their form. This construction is becoming increasingly acceptable.
However, writers need to be aware that state and/or national assessments may not regard
this construction as correct.
9. Use a gender-specific pronoun
10. When you have to use third person pronouns throughout a long text:
a. Use both female and male pronouns but vary the order.
 b. Alternate male and female pronouns throughout the text.
CURRENT USAGE INCLUSIONARY ALTERNATIVES
1. Man Human being, human
2. Mankind, Men Human beings, humans, humankind, humanity, people, human race,
human species, society, men and women
3. Working men Workers, wage earners
4. Man on the street Average person, ordinary person, the common person
5. Forefather Ancestor
6. Manhood Adulthood, maturity
7. Manning Staffing, working, running
8. Man-made Manufactured, synthetic, artificial
9. To a man Everyone, unanimously, without exception
10. Founding fathers Founders
11. Manpower Human resources, staff, personnel, labor force
12. Masterful Domineering, very skillful
13. Brother hood of man The family of humanity, the unity of people or of human kind,
human solidarity
14. One man show One person show, solo exhibition
15. Early man Early people, early men and women, early human beings
16. Statesmanship diplomacy
11. Repeat the noun or find a synonym.

What is gender-sensitive reporting?

Gender-sensitive reporting is the practice of producing media content in a way which is sensitive to gender
inequalities and portrays women and men fairly.
Gender-sensitive reporting should be considered a key principle of professional media production, similar to
values of accuracy and balance. Gender must be considered at all levels of news production: from the
editorial department where decisions are made about what stories to cover, to the field where stories are
gathered.
The 5Ws of Gender-Sensitive Journalism
WHO Traditional outlets – newspapers, radio, TV – and new media alike. Bloggers, reporters, editors,
editor-in-chief, photographers, managers, editorial board.
WHAT to portray and treat women fairly in news reports, with an attentive approach to avoid inequalities,
stereotypes, and discrimination as well as in their multi-faceted roles.
WHY Fair gender portrayal is a professional and ethical aspiration, similar to respect for accuracy, fairness,
and honesty. It can importantly contribute and co-create more gender balanced and inclusive societies.
WHERE Across media outlets as a whole – from the managerial department setting the editorial line to the
field where information is gathered, to the newsroom where the story is packaged.
WHEN At every stage of the news gathering process.
HOW Gender-sensitive selection of topics and sources and stories, use of gender -fair-language, and
promoting gender equality within media outlets.

Five Key Principles of Gender-Sensitive Reporting

I. Balance the presence of women and men in media coverage to mirror the society,
human experiences, actions, views and concerns.
II. Avoid gender stereotypes that do not mirror the world and its possibilities and perpetuate
a bi-dimensional portray of the society.
III. Weigh the representation of women and men, making sure to give equal voice to women,
including as experts, in often male-dominated areas – such as politics and government,
economic and business, war and conflicts, science and technology, sports.
IV. Use gender-sensitive language.
 V. Cover gender equality issues and discussions as an important and integral part of the
media’s role as a watchdog of society.
Practical Tips
I. Ensure an equal range of speakers
II. Tell the story in a gender-sensitive way
III. Language
IV. Visual representation of women in the media
V. Who tells story?
• Ensure that both women and men report on gender and women’s issues, not only women.
• Build gender awareness and sensitivity into all reporting requirements.
• Recognise gender as an important factor, and ensure that it includes both women’s and men’s
concerns.
• Ensure that sub-editors are sensitised to gender as regards editorial issues.

Five principles of conflict-sensitive reporting

I. Explores backgrounds and contexts of the conflict, presenting causes and options on every side so
as to portray the conflict in realistic and transparent terms.
II. Give voice to the views of all parties involved, not merely the leaders of two antagonistic sides.
III. Air all voices, balancing men and women in their different roles. In conflict and post conflict
phases gender-sensitive reporting can compel societies to adopt more apt gender-transformative
processes where women’s human rights are respected and gender equality is perpetuated.
IV. Avoid bias. Expose cover-up attempts on all sides and reveal excesses committed by, and suffering
inflicted on, peoples of all parties.
V. Pay attention to peace stories and post-conflict developments.
Practical Tips:
• Words Matter
• Deciding to publish or broadcast
• Context awareness
• Conducting gender-sensitive interviews
• Choosing images
• Interviews
• Ensure the privacy of violence survivors

Reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

I.Avoid victimization
• Do not identify the survivor with any details unless they have chosen to go public with
their identity (secure consent through a record).
• Do not insist on taking videos/photos of injuries or scars or describe them; do not include
photos/illustrations that depict scenes of violence; choose neutral pictures.
• Do not insist on excessive descriptions, details or circumstances of the violence.
• If a survivor shares more details, think about the possible risks of perpetuating stereotypes
in publishing them. For instance, is it important what a survivor of rape wore? How late
(s)he was returning home? That (s)he declined to be accompanied or had been drinking?
None of these circumstances justify the aggressor’s violent actions.
II. Do not try to defend the aggressor
• Either intentionally or unintentionally, do not normalize violent behaviour - whether a
man or woman was intoxicated, was jealous, served in the army, lost a job, or has a
serious health condition. Nothing justifies the violence.
III. Avoid using the word «victim»
 • Survivors of violence who come forward should be commended not victimized; for
example, when reporting on sexual violence, note the difference in wording: «she is a
victim of rape» and «she survived sexual violence».
• Report on GBV survivors as people and empowered individuals; the image of a strong
woman or man can be conveyed both in text and in a TV or radio piece (without revealing
their identity).

Resources: National GAD Resource Program Philippine Commission on Women

Guidelines for gender and conflict sensitive reporting retrieve from https://eca.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Field%20Office
%20ECA/Attachments/Publications/2019/07/Guidelines%20for%20Media%20and%20Gender%20Ukraine/
Guidelines_ENG_prew_40719_compressed.pdf
Gender-sensitive Reporting, Free Press Unlimited retrieved from
https://kq.freepressunlimited.org/themes/gender-equality/gender-in-media-content/gender-sensitive-reporting/