Essay Undergraduate 420 words

Seven Steps to Non-Sexist Writing in English

~3 min read

Abstract

This paper examines the problem of sexist language in English and argues for the adoption of non-sexist writing practices. It traces the roots of male-biased language to historical cultural norms and contends that contemporary society's commitment to gender equality demands a shift in how we write and speak. The paper offers three practical guidelines: avoiding male pronouns for persons of unspecified gender, reconsidering the use of "man" when "human" is more accurate, and treating women as individuals rather than extensions of men. The author frames non-sexist writing not as a rigid ruleset but as a flexible guide toward linguistic equality.

📝 How to Write This Type of Paper Writing guide — click to expand

▼

What makes this paper effective

Grounds its argument in a clear ethical claim — that language shapes attitudes and therefore carries a social responsibility — before moving into practical advice.
Uses concrete before-and-after examples to illustrate each guideline, making abstract principles immediately actionable for the reader.
Maintains a constructive, non-prescriptive tone by framing the guidelines as a "guide" rather than a rigid ruleset, which makes the argument more persuasive and accessible.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper demonstrates the technique of grounding a normative argument in cultural context. Rather than simply asserting that sexist language is wrong, the author first explains why it persists (historical cultural norms) and then argues that a changed culture necessitates changed language. This cause-and-effect reasoning strengthens the prescriptive recommendations that follow.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens with a broad claim about the power of language, then narrows to the specific problem of male bias in English. A short transition paragraph introduces existing conventions before the author presents three original, numbered guidelines with examples. The paper closes by reframing the guidelines philosophically — not as rules, but as a framework for equality. This funnel structure (broad → specific → reflective) is characteristic of a well-organized short argumentative essay.

The Power and Responsibility of Language

English is a remarkably rich language, containing thousands of words capable of conveying vastly different concepts. Language is powerful in the sense that it can convey ideas and emotions and ultimately influence the mind and heart of the reader or listener. However, language can also contain words used to insult, discriminate, or belittle people. We therefore have the responsibility to use language carefully so that we do not inadvertently convey offensive ideas.

The English language has long been riddled with terms biased toward the male members of society. This may have been a product of the cultural norms of past generations. However, contemporary culture treats men and women as equals, and this is precisely why promoting non-sexist language has become so important. We want to discourage language that emphasizes the superiority of one sex over the other, since such language promotes discrimination.

The Problem of Male Bias in English

There are several established suggestions for developing non-sexist writing. These include using the term "human" instead of "man," using "person" in place of "-man" (e.g., chairman → chairperson), and using a generic pronoun rather than defaulting to "he" for unspecified genders. Sometimes it is difficult to follow these conventions due to long-established usage. The following proposals are intended to help writers promote non-sexist writing without the need to memorize a rigid set of rules:

Practical Guidelines for Non-Sexist Writing

1. If a term refers to a person of undetermined gender, avoid using a male pronoun. For example, "A doctor should give his best treatment to every patient" becomes "A doctor should always give the best treatment to every patient."

2. If a term makes use of the word "man," re-evaluate whether it refers to a human being in general or specifically to a male, and then use the appropriate term. For example, "Man is good by nature" becomes "A human is good by nature."

3. If a sentence refers to a woman as an extension of a man — for example, Mr. John Roberts and his wife — give emphasis to both persons as individuals: Mr. John Roberts and Mrs. Linda Roberts. This principle also applies to terms such as "female doctor" (use "doctor" instead) and "actress" (use "actor" instead).

1 Locked Section · 40 words remaining

Non-Sexist Writing as a Guide to Equality · 40 words

"Guidelines framed as flexibility toward gender equality"

You’re 84% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 1 section.

130,000+ paper examples AI writing assistant Citation generator Cancel anytime

Key Concepts in This Paper

Non-Sexist Language Male Bias Gender-Neutral Pronouns Inclusive Writing Language and Culture Gender Equality Generic Pronouns Linguistic Responsibility