AUTHOR=Sczesny Sabine , Formanowicz Magda , Moser Franziska 

TITLE=Can Gender-Fair Language Reduce Gender Stereotyping and Discrimination?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00025

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00025

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p>Gender-fair language (GFL) aims at reducing gender stereotyping and discrimination. Two principle strategies have been employed to make languages gender-fair and to treat women and men symmetrically: neutralization and feminization. Neutralization is achieved, for example, by replacing male-masculine forms (<italic>policeman</italic>) with gender-unmarked forms (<italic>police officer</italic>), whereas feminization relies on the use of feminine forms to make female referents visible (i.e., <italic>the applicant… he or she</italic> instead of <italic>the applicant… he</italic>). By integrating research on (1) language structures, (2) language policies, and (3) individual language behavior, we provide a critical review of how GFL contributes to the reduction of gender stereotyping and discrimination. Our review provides a basis for future research and for scientifically based policy-making.</p>