Gender Parity in Texts
The masculine gender should not be used to refer to both men and women.
Also, parentheses, slashes and hyphens to isolate the feminine gender
(ex.: his/her, his(her)) should be avoided.
Here are a few ways to get around this:
1 - Use plural nouns and pronouns:
| Instead of... | Use this... | A staff member can use his I.D. card to enter the sports facilities | Staff members can use their I.D. cards... |
|---|
2 - Replace possessive adjectives with articles:
| Instead of... | Use this... |
|---|---|
| An employee must advise his supervisor in case of emergency | An employee must advise the supervisor... |
3 - Use both possessive adjectives, linked by "or" (their order should be varied in lengthy texts):
| Instead of... | Use this... |
|---|---|
| Each student must contact his thesis supervisor | Each student must contact his or her..., or her or his... |
4 - Eliminate the pronoun (use neutral expression):
| Instead of... | Use this... |
|---|---|
| Each student is expected to try as hard as she can | Each student is expected to try as hard as possible. |
5 - Use both pronouns, linked by "or":
| Instead of... | Use this... |
|---|---|
| If a student fails an exam, he must... | If a student fails an exam, he or she must... |
6 - Directly address the reader (in more personal or promotional texts):
| Instead of... | Use this... |
|---|---|
| If he participates regularly in residence activities, the student will adapt more quickly | If you participate..., you will adapt... |
7 - Use genderless nouns or phrases:
| Instead of... | Use this... |
|---|---|
| A chairman of a department should also speak his mind during promotion hearings | A chairperson (or department head) should also speak out (or "express opinions") during... |
These tips were taken from the Procedure Secretary 20-3, Secretary of the University, May 6, 1991. Take a look at the original text, you will find more tips and examples.
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