IELTS Avoid Language Bias

IELTS Avoid Language Bias

Suggestions for avoiding language that reinforces stereotypes or excludes certain groups of people.

Sexism

Race Ethnicity, and National Origin

Age

Sexual Orientation

Depersonalization of Persons with Disabilities or Illnesses

Patronizing or Demeaning Expressions

Language That Excludes or Unnecessarily Emphasizes Differences

Sexism

Sexism is the most difficult bias to avoid, in part because of the convention of using man or men and he or his to refer to people of either sex. Other, more disrespectful conventions include giving descriptions of women in terms of age and appearance while describing men in terms of accomplishment.

Avoid This		Use This Instead
mankind, man		human beings, humans, humankind, humanity, people, society, men and women
man-made		synthetic, artificial
man in the street		average person, ordinary person

Using gender-neutral terms for occupations, positions, roles, etc.
Terms that specify a particular sex can unnecessarily perpetuate certain stereotypes when used generically.

Avoid This		Use This Instead
anchorman		anchor
bellman, bellboy		bellhop
businessman		businessperson, executive, manager, business owner, retailer, etc.
chairman		chair, chairperson
cleaning lady, girl, maid		housecleaner, housekeeper, cleaning person, office cleaner
clergyman		member of the clergy, rabbi, priest, etc.
clergymen		the clergy
congressman		representative, member of Congress, legislator
fireman		firefighter
forefather		ancestor
girl/gal Friday		assistant
housewife		homemaker
insurance man		insurance agent
layman		layperson, nonspecialist, nonprofessional
mailman, postman		mail or letter carrier
policeman		police officer or law enforcement officer
salesman, saleswoman, saleslady, salesgirl		salesperson, sales representative, sales associate, clerk
spokesman		spokesperson, representative
stewardess, steward		flight attendant
spokesman		flight attendant
weatherman		weather reporter, weathercaster, meteorologist
workman		worker
actress		actor

Replacing the pronoun he
Like man, the generic use of he can be seen to exclude women.

Avoid This		Use This Instead
When a driver approaches a red light, he must prepare to stop.		When drivers approach a red light, they must prepare to stop.
When a driver approaches a red light, he or she must prepare to stop.		When approaching a red light, a driver must prepare to stop.

Referring to members of both sexes with parallel names, titles, or descriptions
Don't be inconsistent unless you are trying to make a specific point.

Avoid This		Use This Instead
men and ladies		men and women, ladies and gentlemen
Betty Schmidt, an attractive 49-year-old physician, and her husband, Alan Schmidt, a noted editor		Betty Schmidt, a physician, and her husband, Alan Schmidt, an editor
Mr. David Kim and Mrs. Betty Harrow		Mr. David Kim and Ms. Betty Harrow (unless Mrs. is her known preference)
man and wife		husband and wife
Dear Sir:		Dear Sir/Madam: Dear Madam or Sir: To whom it may concern:
Mrs. Smith and President Jones		Governor Smith and President Jones

Race, Ethnicity, and National Origin

Some words and phrases that refer to racial and ethnic groups are clearly offensive. Other words (e.g., Oriental, colored) are outdated or inaccurate. Hispanic is generally accepted as a broad term for Spanish-speaking people of the Western Hemisphere, but more specific terms (Latino, Mexican American) are also acceptable and in some cases preferred.

Avoid This		Use This Instead
Negro, colored, Afro-American		black, African-American (generally preferred to Afro-American)
Oriental, Asiatic		Asian or more specific designation such as Pacific Islander, Chinese American, Korean
Indian		Indian properly refers to people who live in or come from India. American Indian, Native American, and more specific designations (Chinook, Hopi) are usually preferred when referring to the native peoples of the Western hemisphere.
Eskimo		Inuit, Alaska Natives
native (n.)		native peoples, early inhabitants, aboriginal peoples (but not aborigines)

Age

The concept of aging is changing as people are living longer and more active lives. Be aware of word choices that reinforce stereotypes (decrepit, senile) and avoid mentioning age unless it is relevant.

Avoid This		Use This Instead
elderly, aged, old, geriatric, the elderly, the aged		older person, senior citizen(s), older people, seniors

Sexual Orientation

The term homosexual to describe a man or woman is increasingly replaced by the terms gay for men and lesbian for women. Homosexual as a noun is sometimes used only in reference to a male. Among homosexuals, certain terms (such as queer and dyke) that are usually considered offensive have been gaining currency in recent years. However, it is still prudent to avoid these terms in standard contexts.

Avoiding Depersonalization of Persons with Disabilities or Illnesses

Terminology that emphasizes the person rather than the disability is generally preferred. Handicap is used to refer to the environmental barrier that affects the person. (Stairs handicap a person who uses a wheelchair.) While words such as crazy, demented, and insane are used in facetious or informal contexts, these terms are not used to describe people with clinical diagnoses of mental illness. The euphemisms challenged, differently abled, and special are preferred by some people, but are often ridiculed and are best avoided. (A I P PG . c om)

Avoid This		Use This Instead
Mongoloid		person with Down syndrome
wheelchair-bound		person who uses a wheelchair
AIDS sufferer, person afflicted with AIDS, AIDS victim		person living with AIDS, P.W.A., HIV+, (one who tests positive for HIV but does not show symptoms of AIDS)
polio victim		has/had polio
the handicapped, the disabled, cripple		persons with disabilities or person who uses crutches or more specific description
deaf-mute, deaf and dumb		deaf person

Avoiding Patronizing or Demeaning Expressions

These are expressions which can offend, regardless of intention. References to age, sex, religion, race, and the like should only be included if they are relevant.

Avoid This		Use This Instead
girls (when referring to adult women), the fair sex		women
sweetie, dear, dearie, honey		(usually not appropriate with strangers or in public situations)
old maid, bachelorette, spinster		single woman, woman, divorced woman (but only if one would specify "divorced man" in the same context)
the little woman, old lady, ball and chain		wife
boy (when referring to or addressing an adult man)		man, sir

Avoiding Language That Excludes or Unnecessarily Emphasizes Differences

References to age, sex, religion, race, and the like should be included only if they are relevant.

Avoid This		Use This Instead
lawyers and their wives		lawyers and their spouses
a secretary and her boss		a secretary and boss, a secretary and his or her boss
the male nurse		the nurse
Arab man denies assault charge		Man denies assault charge
the articulate black student		the articulate student
Marie Curie was a great woman scientist		Marie Curie was a great scientist (unless the intent is to compare her only with other women in the sciences)
Christian name		given name, personal name, first name
Mr. Johnson, the black representative, met with the President today to discuss civil-rights legislation.		Mr. Johnson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, met with the President today to discuss civil-rights legislation.