Why Gender Inclusive Writing Is Important
    People write to make ideas and points understood.  If a writer uses gender exclusive language, this causes a feeling of alienation for some readers.  Writers need to make sure that their documents have a universal understanding.  A gender inclusive writer expresses their point without causing readers to feel defined or placed in a role by society. Women are virtually left out in having to deal with a society of policemen, congressmen, firemen, councilmen, and many more.  The words people use reflects how they view themselves especially as a society.  This is why it is so important to use gender inclusive language.
    Sexist language refers to people in positions of power such as doctors, lawyers, politicians, and other skilled professionals as he or him.  The language then refers to the roles that are typically considered female roles as she or her such as nurses, secretaries, homemakers, and teachers.  The idea is men do the important work, while females play support roles.  When the roles are switched women who do “men’s” jobs are called female C.E.O. s, female doctors, and female lawyers.  Men who do “women’s” work are called male nurses, male models, and sometimes even male teachers.
     Women have titles that denote marital status whereas men have titles that protect their status.  Men are referred to as a bachelor.  Women however are referred to as on the shelf, spinster, and old maids. Women do not receive the same attitude towards marriage from society as men do in writing.  It is then imperative that writers express gender inclusive language.
 The use of the word “Female” can be used when discussing animals, whether the person in question is either a girl or a woman, and when talking about a group that contains both women and girls.

Some Ways to Help Eliminate Gender Biased Writing According to Lannon
Tips on Personal Titles
· Use Neutral Expressions:

   chair or chairperson  rather than chairman/chairwoman
   ancestors   rather than  forefathers
   supervisor   rather than  foreman
   police officer  rather than policeman/policewoman
   student   rather than coed
   homemaker   rather than housewife
   humanity, or humankind rather than mankind/womankind
   actor    rather than  actor vs. actress
   anchor   rather than anchorman/anchorwoman

· Drop diminutive endings such as -er, -ess, and -ette used to denote female and male roles. (widower, poetess, drum majorette, actress, etc.).  These images call forth an image of the sex of a person affecting their role.

· Use Ms. instead of Mrs. or Miss, only unless you know the person would rather be called a more  traditional titles.  Or you can omit titles completely: Lou Evans and Sally Reed; Evans and Reed.

Tips on Pronouns

· Rephrase the gender pronoun, if the writer can do so without changing their original meaning.

   Sexist The student proofread his paper for class..
   Revised The student proofread .

· Use plural forms.  Instead of Each student...he, use All students...they (but not Each student...they).

    Sexist The student proofread his paper.
     Revised Students proofread their papers.  (but not A student proofread their paper.)
When using a plural form, do not make a mistake in pronoun referent agreement by having the plural pronoun they or their refer to a singular referent (as in Each student proofread their work).

· Use occasional pairings (him or her, she or he, his or hers): The student proofread his/her paper.

A writer can over use these pairing.  Writers need to make their work clear.  Overuse of the pairs can cause clutter and confusion.   Most handbooks now advocate using both pronouns alternating and discourage pairings and he/she:  The  student needs to proofread her paper; the conscientious student must revise his paper.  However, when a singular pronoun is necessary, the writer must use the same pronoun consistently throughout the paragraph.  The writer can use he or she alternately throughout the essay.

· When possible (as in direct address) use you: You will succeed if you revise.  Use this form (you) when addressing someone directly only, not when using third person.

Tips on Quoting Gender Biased Sources

· When a writer  quotes sources that  ignore present standards for gender inclusive language, the writer should think about one of  these options: Inserting (“thus” or “so”) following the first instance of gender exclusive language in a  passage.  Use ellipsis to leave out gender exclusive wording.  Paraphrase the excluding passage, instead of directly quoting it..
 

Sources
How to Use Unbiased Language

Lannon, John M.  Technical Writing. Seventh Edition.  Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 1997  p.300-301

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