To tackle gender inequality, we must look at the way we communicate.
This toolkit provides guidelines for the use of gender-sensitive language in writing. Gender-sensitive communication ensures that women and men – and those who do not conform to the binary gender system – are treated as persons of equal importance and dignity.
Test your knowledge
Practical tools
Contenuto
Overview of the toolkit
First steps towards more inclusive language
Terms you need to know
Why should I ever mention gender?
Choosing whether to mention gender
Key principles for inclusive language use
Challenges
Stereotypes
Avoid gendered pronouns (he or she) when the person’s gender is unknown
Avoid irrelevant information about gender
Avoid gendered stereotypes as descriptive terms
Gendering in-animate objects
Using different adjectives for women and men
Avoid using stereotypical images
Invisibility and omission
Do not use ‘man’ as the neutral term
Do not use ‘he’ to refer to unknown people
Do not use gender-biased nouns to refer to groups of people
Take care with ‘false generics’
Greetings and other forms of inclusive communication
Subordination and trivialisation
Naming conventions
Patronising language
Test your knowledge
Quiz 1: Policy document
Quiz 2: Job description
Quiz 3: Legal text
Practical tools
Solutions for how to use gender-sensitive language
Pronouns
Invisibility or omission
Common gendered nouns
Adjectives
Phrases
Policy context
Downloads
Download the toolkit on gender-sensitive communication EN (528 KB)