The Gender-Neutral Language Debate

The debate about gender-neutral language is one of the most active and evolving language discourses, encompassing debates about pronouns, titles, job titles, and the relationship between linguistic change and social change. It connects to fundamental questions about the relationship between language and identity.

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What Is Gender-Neutral Language?

Gender-neutral language (also called gender-inclusive language or non-sexist language) is language that avoids reference to a particular gender or that includes all genders equally. The movement towards gender-neutral language has several distinct strands:

• Removing gendered assumptions from job titles — "firefighter" instead of "fireman," "police officer" instead of "policeman," "flight attendant" instead of "stewardess"
• Using gender-neutral pronouns — "they/them" as singular pronouns, or neopronouns such as "ze/zir"
• Replacing gendered titles — "Mx" instead of "Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss," "chair" instead of "chairman"
• Revising gendered default assumptions — "humankind" instead of "mankind," "staffing" instead of "manning," "first-year student" instead of "freshman"
• Using inclusive language for non-binary and transgender people — respecting individuals' chosen names and pronouns