Gender-inclusive language
Gender-inclusive language is more welcoming to your users and promotes gender equality. Do not reference gender unless absolutely necessary.
About gender identity
Gender identity refers to a sense of self, regardless of what sex a person was assigned at birth. Not everyone falls neatly into binary male or female categories.
Non-binary is an umbrella term for gender identities that are neither male or female.
Language influences how we think
When using gender pronouns and referring to gender identity consider that:
- your users are a diverse group of people from across the gender spectrum
- labelling people as male or female can reinforce outdated stereotypes and influence how men and women are perceived.
- gender-exclusive language — for example ‘man-made’, can alienate people who do not identify as men.
Tips
- Use gender-neutral pronouns (they, them) by default — especially if you’re writing about a hypothetical person or do not know a person’s pronoun.
- Respect a person’s pronouns when referring to them.
- Do not ask your users for their title or gender unless absolutely necessary.
- If you do require users to indicate their title or gender, make provision for multiple options, including gender-neutral options. Allow users to select more than 1 option.
- Avoid words that are gender exclusive — for example use ‘firefighter’ not ‘fireman’.
Resources
Identity of the rainbow population — Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
Reviewing the statistical standards for sex and gender — Stats NZ
Prism report — Human Rights Commission
Pronoun use in email signatures — Public Service Commission
2018 Survey Report — Counting Ourselves
Avoid referencing gender unless it’s absolutely relevant — Content Design London
Designing forms for gender diversity and inclusion — UX Collective
How to use gender neutral language and why it’s important to try — Forbes
Gender — World Health Organisation
Utility links and page information
Last updated