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Gendered language and why it matters

Gendered language and why it matters

Last year I proofread a children’s illustrated dictionary for a client. There was a double-page spread with pictures of boys and girls dressed for different professions. There were camera operators, ministers, nurses (girls), doctors (mainly boys), firemen (boys), and policewomen (girls). And this is why gendered language matters.

Sometimes when I’m working, my Spidey senses tingle before I’ve checked something. This was one of those times. Through training and reading Ciep’s guide to gendered language, I recognised the need to raise a query.

The State of Gendered Language

Sue Grey (developmental editor at O’Reilly Media) wrote an excellent article for the Ciep entitled The State of Gendered Language. She details how the world seems to be changing at an ever quicker pace. In some areas, this change is positive such as a reduction in sexism, homophobia, and transphobia but with every advancement, there is an inevitable backlash.

The powerful rarely relinquish without a fight. Controlling language is another way to control people. Women’s rights and freedoms are being threatened and eroded as a reaction to women’s advancement in the workplace and positions of power. The same is true of those from the LGBTQ+ community whose rights are being repealed and lives endangered just as many people become more accepting of difference.

Moving away from sexism

Gendered language is a contentious issue with many people. It follows that language needs to keep pace with society and adapt to better reflect its citizens.

Challenges to sexism in language began in the 1960s and 1970s. One of the first examples of this change was the wide acceptance of he and she rather than deferring to the male pronoun. From this we had the introduction of Ms to further support women.

Meanwhile, women were taking to the streets in their thousands demanding equal pay, paid childcare, and rights over their bodies. At the same time, gays, and other activists were asking to be recognised and treated with respect.

Simultaneously, people began to believe that descriptive titles needn’t be gendered. They asked questions such as do we need to gender the job description. Do we need to know if the person performing a role is male or female? If the answer is no, which is invariably is, then get rid of the gender label. Finding a gender-neutral alternative is easy.

Ooh look! It’s a male scientist!

There is a fantastic satirical page on Facebook, Man who has it all, who parodies the ridiculous advice self-help books, and the media, dole out to women. He tackles the prejudice of gendered language head on. In one post there is a photo of a male and female side by side; his t-shirt reads Male scientist whereas hers simply reads – scientist.

Essentially, the point being made illustrates that gendered labels are unnecessary. They help reinforce unhelpful stereotypes around gender roles: we don’t need policewomen, firemen, or postwomen. By gendering jobs, you are implying that the default is a male in that position.

Furthermore, it helps people assume that for someone not of that gender to perform that role is exceptional. This is especially evident when discussing certain career paths such as a male nurse or a female surgeon.

Some people may argue that there are greater challenges in the world to be concerned about but this is an important issue. There are many societies where women are still restricted from entering certain professions. And language whether overtly or not plays a role in societies expectations.

So, when we eradicate unhelpful gender labels, we are helping young people grow up with the expectation that all roles are open to them. That to be a physicist, politician, or CEO is possible however they identify.

We’ve eliminated gendered language – so we’ve won!

Sadly, we are not even close. While gender labels are being removed from English, there are still unhelpful stereotypes and examples of how language can be weaponised. Boys criticised for being sensitive and girls who are leaders labelled bossy are two such examples.

Issues with language and how different genders are spoken to persist. Politicians get asked questions that produce eye rolls on a regular basis. When Jacinda Arden and Finnish prime minister Sana Marin met last year, one male journalist fell short.

With a straight face, he asked two elected leaders of their respective countries if they were ‘meeting because you’re similar in age, and, you know, got a lot of common stuff?’

Arden countered with if he’d ever ask Barack Obama and John Key the same question. Meanwhile, Marin gave the withering reply, ‘We’re meeting because we’re prime ministers.’ The asinine nature of this question highlights that as a female you can lead your country yet still be undermined by someone talking to you as if you’re a teenager having a sleepover.

There are many other examples of how language is gendered or othered. Othering can also be noted by absence, sometimes research is conducted with only cis-gendered white men. Outcomes from this myopic view are still being felt among women and other disenfranchised groups.

When we other groups and only let one voice dominate, is it any wonder that many of us feel abandoned by institutions and locked out of policy. That’s why gendered language matters.

Sensitivity as a proofreader and editor

Part of the role of an editor is to help your clients understand accepted language usage and point out diplomatically when their writing could be amended. It’s fine, we all make mistakes and have our biases which is why checking your own writing can lead to issues as we are often unable to see our own ticks and bad habits.

That’s why hiring a good editor will help you avoid pitfalls and help to ensure readers don’t feel excluded.

As an editor, it is your job to be the widest audience for any discourse and advise your clients accordingly. Showing sensitivity promotes inclusion and that is what all writing should aim for.

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Bionic Reading: what is it and does it work?

Bionic Reading: what is it and does it work? When I think of bionic images of Barbarella, BSG and Star Wars come to mind. As an adjective, bionic is attributed to sci-fi often relating to a replaced body part which enhances the strength and ability of a character: think of The Bionic Woman.

Bionic Reading: faster and better?

Bionic Reading is designed to enhance our ability to read at greater speed, yet still retain the text’s meaning. If it works, the implications are staggering. Learning new skills would be easier; children could learn to read more advanced books with greater ease; work would feel less stressful. We would become more efficient – more like machines.

Who created Bionic Reading?

Renato Casutt a Swedish typographic designer created Bionic Reading. He claims Bionic Reading accelerates the speed at which you read with no loss of comprehension. At first glance, it looks intriguing, but I wonder if everybody could benefit from this. Is this beneficial or nothing more than a publicity stunt for a new typeface?

How does it work?

Apparently, Bionic Reading supports how our brains process information faster than our eyes. Initial letters and syllables are highlighted, so we can increase the speed at which we read.

Previously, I discussed how our brains make assumptions about words based on the initial letters of a word. So, even if letters within a word are transposed our brains fill in the blanks and help us to read.

On the official site they claim, ‘Bionic Reading revises texts so that the most concise parts of words are highlighted. This guides the eye over the text and the brain remembers previously learned words more quickly.’

Reading more quickly sounds desirable especially coupled without losing comprehension but there could be downsides.

Bionic Reading is a gift to copy editors

When I first saw posts about Bionic Reading on Twitter earlier this year, my interest was piqued. This could become an essential part of my toolkit or an unwanted distraction leading to more errors in my copy.

As a proofreader and copy editor, I go through many stages before I can send copy back to a client satisfied that I’ve managed to find most errors.

Initially, I skim copy to understand overall tone and meaning of a piece. Then I go back to check titles, subheadings, headers and footers, page numbers, tables and so on. Following my initial skim and scan and other checks, I may start to use the find and replace function for a phrase or word which is misspelt or easily confused with another.

Only then, will I read through the copy checking and making amendments as necessary and raising queries with clients. There is a lot more to my job than this, but you get the idea.

It seems that Bionic Reading could help with a lot of aspects of my job. Well, up to a point. As a confident reader, it would support with the overall meaning of a text. However, I can see several issues.

In my professional role, I have to slow down and ensure I have considered every word carefully. Has the client used a near word and got a little confused? Are letters transposed so meaning is unclear?

There are many homophones that start with the same letter(s) or syllables which you could misread. English is a wonderful but complex language, and many words are easily confusable such as effect and affect/practise (verb) and practice (noun).

Who could struggle with this and where is the evidence that supports it?

If I were to present information, as I have many times in a classroom, this could be useful. Although, many established teachers are generally confident of their subject or speciality and can deliver lessons scanning notes rather than reading aloud.

Working as a proofreader or editor would make me pause before employing Bionic Reading on a text.

Emergent readers could become distracted and struggle. When we first learn to read, we look for digraphs and phonemes we know to help us read words. The assumptive nature of Bionic Reading would make this difficult.

My first impression is not positive. My eyes are distracted by the initial letters in bold and I can’t concentrate. Neurodivergent people may find this challenging, especially individuals with dyslexia.

I have read accounts of some with ADHD who love Bionic Reading, but this is not a whole community.

Several editors and teachers I spoke to were concerned with the lack of evidence that Bionic Reading enhances reading in the way it claims on its website.

I took a test that showed my reading speed increased by only 1% with Bionic Reading, so that increase is a token amount.

What’s the rush?

It is possible to speed read, but most find that when they do this, they have a sense of writing but miss nuance. They may also struggle to later recall what they have read. Reading slowly tends to help us retain what we’ve read.

As someone who finds it challenging to relax, I find reading therapeutic. I use it as a form of mediation: something slow, peaceful and calming. The wonder of how an author creates atmosphere, paints a scene and takes you deep into a character’s pysche is something to savour.

Rolling around an unfamiliar word or elegant phrase in my mind is something I love to take my time over. I want to enjoy every word like the last spoonful of a delicious dessert. So, Bionic Reading is not for me.

If more in depth studies are carried out and verified, I may change my mind. When teachers, writers and others are onboard I will be willing to look again but for now – it’s not for me.

Neurotypical people may thrive with Bionic Reading, but for everyone else – the jury’s out.

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Great books make life better

Four books displayed on a teal table top including Girl A and The Sundown Motel
Girl A, Inch Levels, The Sundown Motel and Educated

Being ill is boring

Being ill is boring, but great books make life better. I hadn’t been feeling great for a while, but I did what many people do when they’re worried about their health: nothing. When I finally went to the doctor, I was despatched to the hospital and operated on.

Eight months later and my life has changed. Well, for the moment at least. I am no longer tearing off to school and shoving food in my mouth like a compulsive gambler filling a slot machine with coins. Instead, I’m at home, and life is much quieter.

General hospital

I’ve had several operations since my first one, but there have been some positive changes from this uncertain time. It feels like a reset; I’ve had to default to factory settings and start some things from a different perspective.

For one thing, I’ve realised that I need to take better care of myself. I ignored the neon signs and massive warnings my body was giving me.

Books heal your mind

While I was incapacitated on the sofa, I was able to indulge in one of my favourite pastimes: reading. My preferred genres are crime fiction and horror. I also love stories set in the domestic sphere which are mostly written by women. Crime and horror have many female authors too: good ones. Often they are not as celebrated as enthusiastically as their male counterparts, but that is a topic for another blog.

Reading to distract from pain

When I was on high doses of medication, I could barely move let alone think. Reading became an essential ritual of self-care. It allowed me to explore worlds and inhabit other lives. Reading helped me imagine a time when I would be well again.

Of the books I read, several stand out. Books that, despite my discomfort, I consumed within two days. One occupied me so much that I read until dawn.

Girl A

In January while floating in codeine-cushioned comfort, I read Girl A in twenty-four hours. As I was physically restricted on the sofa, I read about a family trapped by a father obsessed with his own needs to the detriment of his terrified children. Told in flashback, the story details the survival and brutal aftermath of siblings who escape their abusive home.

All the children are damaged in different ways, and they all develop different coping mechanisms for their trauma. I found it strangely comforting and full of melancholy.

Educated

Educated explores themes of endurance, redemption, and hope. A young girl lives in a state of constant anxiety; her End-of-Days-survivalist father directs his family in a grim drama of trauma, pain, and neglect. Both these books feature abusive fathers who use their physical strength and religious fervor to dominate and control their families. Their thwarted ambitions are paid for by their innocent children.

Girl A is fictitious, but it was inspired by real-life accounts of children held captive by their parents. In contrast, Educated is a memoir that is truly horrific, yet hopeful. I found both these books to be comforting when I was at my worst.

My confinement was temporary whereas these children had spent years living under tyrannical rule. It is easy to fall into self-pity when you are ill, and these two stories helped me get some perspective. I had my loving family who made every effort to comfort, help and support me.

Inch Levels

After Educated, I tackled Inch Levels. The framing device for this novel involves a young man with terminal cancer lying in a hospital bed which resonated with me. Visited by his mother, sister and brother-in-law the past slowly seeps into the present, and the toxicity of poor communication and family secrets is devastating.

A change of direction

By the middle of January, I decided I needed something lighter to divert me. Books that would comfort, intrigue, excite and scare me. I love ghost stories and horror; they both deal with controlled terror. While I was feeling scared of the world, and my own health, these books offered a distraction. They helped me adjust to my new, but hopefully, temporary existence.

The Book Club

The Book Club enveloped me like a warm blanket; I loved the cosy-crime claustrophobia of it. I have always enjoyed living in cities for the anonymity they provide. You can enjoy community without knowing everything about those on your doorstep. Mary Alice Monroe captures the dynamics of a close-knit community and the intricacies of female friendship well.

The Sundown Motel

The Sundown Motel blends two genres I am enthralled by: ghost stories and true crime. Simone St James creates an uneasy atmosphere when she abandons her protagonist, Carly Kirk, to a small town in upstate New York. She works at the reception desk at a rundown motel while trying to uncover what happened to her aunt who disappeared forty years previously.

The tension arises from the isolation and anger of some of the inhabitants of the hotel – not all of whom are alive. If you loved Pyscho and The Shining this evokes the same sense of unease, but the girl in peril is replaced with a fearless woman who won’t stop until she finds the truth. I love how the author discards the tired girl-in-terror trope and instead gives her main character agency.

The Broken Girls

After The Sundown Motel, I read another thriller by Simone St James: The Broken Girls. The story employs a time-shift element that I adore, and this time we switch between the 1950s, the 1980s, and the present day. Fiona, whose older sister was murdered at the site of an abandoned girls’ school, is dismayed to find the site is under renovation.

Who would want to bring this place back to life? Why was the school closed in the 1950s and what really happened to Fiona’s sister? This was intriguing and pacy featuring another strong, complicated woman. There are some male authors who would benefit from reading heroines like Fiona and Carly.

No Matter What

I have some friends who are in the process of growing their family. They loaned me this book to help me better understand the needs their children will have. No Matter What is a searing memoir by an adoptive mother and all the love, pain, uncertainty, turmoil, and contentment this brings for the parents and their children.

Other books I would recommend include, The Sanatorium set in the Swiss Alps which was grim and compelling; The Return: friends reunited in an isolated hotel; The Midnight Library which lived up to all the hype, and Where The Crawdads Sing which made one hospital stay much more bearable.

The Last House on Needless Street

Finally, a best-seller that I could not shake for weeks. I have an interest, some might say an unhealthy one bordering on obsession, in cats. Everything about them fills me with admiration: their utter disdain, grace, and independence among their other mystical associations. So, reading The House on Needless Street felt indulgent.

Here is a paraphrase of the blurb: This story involves murder, abduction, and a man called Ted who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia. All of these things are true. And yet some of them are lies. I have not read a book this tightly plotted and deceptive in a very long time. Catriona Ward – you are a master storyteller.

My life has been weird, isolating, consoling, invigorating and unusual over the last year. All I know is, that great books make life better. And to all the lovely people who have been such a support. Thank you.

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Why language matters

Why does the language we use matter?

When Jewel sang, ‘I’m sensitive and I’d like to stay that way‘, I didn’t know this was every editor’s maxim. One of the most exciting aspects of language is how it is in a constant state of flux. This is why language matters.

Slang: proceed with caution

Nothing marks you out as being more desperate than when you use language that is the preserve of the young. As my fourteen-year-old would say, “Cringe!”

Am I offended?

The meaning of words develops and alters over time. What were once playground slurs, can look appallingly crass in hindsight. If I’m being honest, they probably didn’t look that great then either.

As our understanding of ourselves and each other grows, it is important to revise the language we use to refer to one another. Some argue we have become too sensitive, but it is when words are misused that we get into trouble. Most people agree that this is why language matters.

Copy editors

A good copy editor watches for these language bombs and finds a way to defuse them: tactfully.

Being different isn’t a problem; disrespecting difference is problematic

Many groups feel marginalised or misrepresented in society. For hundreds of years, power was in the hands of one dominant group: the wealthy, white, cisgender, male. They dictated everything in society from how women, the LGBTQ+ community, non-white, differently-abled, and the neurodivergent were described for as long as they held power. Some would say little has changed. This is why language matters.

Does it matter how we refer to others?

Well yes, it does. How people are described, feeds into how they are treated and helps shape their identity and sense of self-worth. There is an easy mantra to follow: if in doubt, check it out.

Archetypes are easy to use but lack nuance

This is good to bear in mind when editing anything. Always ask yourself, Who is the audience? How will this piece of copy be received? Words ascribed to people and how they are portrayed, especially in the media, favor archetypes. They act as a shorthand for the reader or viewer. That’s because it is easy to group people with aspects of their identity together in one, homogenous group, but it is lazy. It takes no effort to categorize groups in this way, but the impact felt is negative helping reinforce stereotypes.

We used to chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I didn’t believe it as a child, and I don’t believe it now. Words matter – they have the power to hurt and damage.

They’re a bit sensitive

Some in the LGBTQ+ community, have reclaimed the word queer, while others, especially some older members, still recoil at memories of homophobia. There is a word that the black community has reclaimed, but it must only be used by members of that community.

This is just a snapshot of words and their power but the sentiment should remain; it is important to be sensitive when referring to groups that are not part of your lived experience.

Authenticity matters

As Louise Harnby comments in The Editing Podcast with Nick Taylor on LGBTQ+ editing, “It is about authenticity rather than sensitivity; sensitivity can imply negativity and hurt…we’re actually looking for realism.” There are voices that you should ask to check over your copy to avoid clumsy stereotypes and tired cliches.

It is important to get pronouns right, and it is becoming easier with guides appearing online and through reputable organisations, such as the Ciep.

For an informative, lively discussion on sensitivity readers with Crystal Shelley, check out episode 62 of the above-mentioned podcast.

What does this mean for the writer?

The easiest solution is to reach out to someone from the community you are writing about and ask them to read through your copy before you publish. This is easier with a novel than with a newspaper feature that, by its nature, has a short lead time.

If you don’t know anyone, and you are concerned, for example, that referring to someone with ADHD as mentally ill might be offensive: hire a sensitivity/authenticity reader to avoid any obvious pitfalls.

What does this mean for an editor?

For a fiction or non-fiction editor, it would be a query raised with the author. A gentle nudge or suggestion pointing out that what they’ve written could cause offense. Sometimes, to be offensive is the point of the writing from the perspective of a character, but it can be when someone is relying on lazy tropes they get in trouble.

How can editors challenge language?

If we are editing a newsletter, which refers to ancient inhabitants of a home we might pause to consider if this is insulting. One idea is to practise compassion and empathy. What would I think if I saw that in print and I lived in a residential home? How would I feel seeing a parent or grandparent dismissed in those terms? Consider these questions, and then make suggestions to the writer based on them. If you are a sub-editor, you probably have the power to change the words yourself without the need for consultation.

When to leave copy alone

In some circumstances, leaving controversial language in a text makes sense. If it is a psychological or sociological study and you are reporting people’s use of profanity or slurs, then it should be okay. It would be important to make clear that these words could be offensive and are not the author’s words.

If you are reporting spoken words in a newspaper article, or the words of a provocative character in a novel that may be permitted. It is important to consider the context when choosing which words to use. You can also use euphemisms if you are really concerned.

Is that normal?

What if a writer refers to normal behaviour? Which infers anyone deviating from this is abnormal. Would I flinch to see someone whose brain works differently being described as weird, strange, or too much? Could I recognise that this is unhelpful and inaccurate? Some of the most neurodivergent people in the world are also some of the most creative and inspiring.

David Bowie and ADHD

David Bowie once said in an interview that if he’d been at school today, he would be labelled as having ADHD. Let’s face it, he did pretty well out of being different and following many ideas such as painting, acting, producing, and most successfully, performing and songwriting. Not all these activities succeeded, but I admire that he never limited himself and followed divergent passions.

If it’s good enough for a polymath like Bowie, perhaps we should all consider how we refer to those who differ from us and not other them.

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Clear Copy UK Launch

Darker copy of the Clear Copy UK logo on it's website launch date

Clear Copy UK finally launches today to offer our services with an aim to improve your writing, one line at a time. We cater to all organisations and individuals looking to improve their copy. We aim to make your copy clear, concise and simple.

Clear Copy UK offers a range of services including, but are not limited to: copy editing, proofreading, web editing, and educational editing.

Our rates are currently low to encourage new business, to gain experience, and to help grow the company.

Who Am I?

My name is Sophie Dracott, and I have recently graduated from my proofreading and editing course. On graduating, I received a distinction grade and attained a level 4 diploma. I hold a bachelor of arts degree in English Language and Literature, and have over a decade’s worth of experience working in primary education. You can be assured your words are in capable hands, and I endeavour to make your copy as accurate and clear as possible.

If you are looking for any level of copy editing, please fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.