Assessing the Use of Feminine Professional Titles Among Women in Poland: Insights from Two Representative Surveys

Abstract

Using masculine forms for mixed-gender groups or individuals of unknown gender leads people to think of men. In grammatically gendered languages, using feminine and paired forms (gender-inclusive language, GIL) is a common and effective strategy to increase the visibility of women. Although GIL benefits women as a group, its adoption may encounter resistance, especially among employed women. They may refrain from using feminine forms to refer to themselves due to apprehension about potential backlash for deviating from professional and linguistic norms. Additionally, they may hesitate, so as not to evoke societal stereotypes that associate femininity with lower competence and status in professional settings. In two representative samples of Polish self-identified women, we examined the prevalence of GIL forms in professional self-reference. In both studies, approximately half of the participants used feminine forms. The tendency to use GIL was less pronounced among employed participants, with only a third of currently employed women using feminine job titles. Gender identification moderates this effect, with working women who strongly identify with other women being more likely to use feminine forms. These findings shed light on the potential social and professional factors influencing the adoption of GIL by documenting who uses these forms in what contexts. By identifying potential barriers to broader adoption this study underscores the need to address these challenges with professional and policy-oriented interventions.