Is Gender-Biased Language Sexist? A Perceptual Approach

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to define reactions to gender-biased language empirically. In the first study, respondents evaluated the sexism in a series of sentences that contained no bias, used such words as man or he in the generic sense, or referred to women in an unfair, stereotypical manner. In the second study, reactions were examined in a more naturalistic context by asking respondents to evaluate an essay written using all plural pronouns, generic pronouns, or generic pronouns plus evaluative stereotypic phrasings. The results were consistent with the recommendations of the American Psychological Association's “Guidelines for Nonsexist Language” (1975, 1977): (1) generic phrasings were perceived to be somewhat biased and sexist, (2) designation and evaluation stereotyping was perceived to be extremely biased and sexist, and (3) neutral alternatives were judged to be appropriately nonsexist. These findings suggest that authors should conform to the standards prescribed in the “Guidelines” if they hope to avoid unfair treatment of the sexes.