English Vocabulary in Use Advanced » Unit 99: Language and gender

Word List
  • artificial
  • cleaner
  • female
  • feminine
  • firefighter
  • flight attendant
  • human being
  • the human race
  • male
  • masculine
  • spokesperson
  • staff
  • supervisor
Exercises

99.1 ‣ Answer these questions about the text opposite.

  1. Why do you think there have been attempts to introduce gender-neutral language of the kind described by David Crystal?
    _____
  2. How would you explain this expression: ‘male’ words with a generic meaning?
    _____
  3. Why do you think there might have been controversy about attempts to change the word chairman?
    _____
  4. What do more extreme advocates of making English gender-neutral want to do that is unacceptable to the moderates?
    _____
  5. Why was Ms introduced and why is it useful?
    _____

99.2 ‣ Change these sentences so they reflect modern usage.

  1. Three firemen helped put out a fire at a disused warehouse last night.
    _____
  2. A spokesman for the Department of Education provided us with a statement.
    _____
  3. Cleaning lady wanted for house in Priory Street.
    _____
  4. The helpline is continuously manned even during holiday periods.
    _____
  5. All our air hostesses are fluent in at least three languages.
    _____
  6. The fibres in this garment are man-made.
    _____
  7. Policemen today spend more time in cars than on the beat.
    _____
  8. This was a great step for mankind.
    _____
  9. The man in the street has little time for such issues.
    _____
  10. Salesmen are often well trained and can be very persuasive.
    _____

99.3 ‣ Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

  1. She always dresses in a very _____ way.
    • feminine
    • female
  2. The _____ cat is less aggressive than his sister.
    • masculine
    • male
  3. Do you _____ fancy meeting up later?
    • girlfriends
    • guys
  4. The bar was full of loud, _____ young men.
    • lad
    • laddish
  5. Ross likes to see himself as a tough _____ man!
    • male
    • macho
  6. Anna’s going away for the weekend with a few _____.
    • girlfriends
    • females

99.4 ‣ Answer these questions.

  1. Do you think that using gender-specific language affects people’s attitudes to men and women’s roles in society?
    _____
  2. Does your language ever use male words generically? If so, give examples of words you use to avoid gender stereotyping.
    _____
  3. How do you feel about imposing language changes of the different kinds that David Crystal describes?
    _____
  4. Do terms of address (i.e. Mr, Mrs, etc.) in your language indicate whether people are married?
    _____
  5. Do you think it is better if terms of address indicate marital status or not? Why?
    _____
  6. A grammatical problem in this area is the use of he/his to refer to a person of either gender. In the sentence ‘A government minister may have to neglect his family’, the minister could be a man or a woman. However, the use of ‘his’ assumes, perhaps wrongly, that it is a man. How could you rewrite this sentence to avoid this problem?
    _____
Answer Key
A ‣ Gender awareness and vocabulary

In professional contexts and elsewhere, we often take care to use gender-neutral language in English. David Crystal, in The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, writes:

Attention has been focused on the replacement of ‘male’ words with a generic meaning by neutral items – chairman, for example, becoming chair or chairperson (though not without controversy) or salesman becoming sales assistant. In certain cases, such as job descriptions, the use of sexually neutral language has become a legal requirement. There is continuing debate between extremists and moderates as to how far such revisions should go – whether they should affect traditional idioms such as man in the street1 and Neanderthal Man2, or apply to parts of words where the male meaning of man is no longer dominant, such as manhandle3 and woman. The vocabulary of marital status has also been affected, notably in the introduction of Ms as a neutral alternative to Miss or Mrs.

1 a typical person (could be replaced by person in the street)
2 a now-extinct species that were the ancestors of present-day humans
3 handle roughly, using force

older usagecurrent usage
spokesmanspokesperson
fireman, policemanfirefighter, police officer
air hostessflight attendant
cleaning ladycleaner
foremansupervisor
man-madeartificial
mankindthe human race / human beings
to man (a machine or place of work)to staff
B ‣ Words referring to men and women

wordsmeaning/commentexample
male, femaleused for gender classification in biologymale and female bees
masculine, femininehaving qualities traditionally felt to be typically male or femalemasculine pride, feminine charm
guy, blokeinformal words for a manJack’s a really nice guy.
guysan informal word for men and women, especially in the phrase you guys, as a way of addressing people directlyDo any of you guys fancy going out for a pizza tonight?
girlfriendused by women to refer to a female friendI’m meeting up with a few girlfriends this evening.
girlie/girlyused to describe things that girls and young women often enjoy without men, especially involving clothes, make-up, etc.They’re having a girlie evening at home.
ladinformal word for a boy or young manHe’s having a night out with some of the lads tonight.
laddishused to describe unpleasant behaviour thought to be typical of young men in a group, especially drinking alcoholI can’t stand that kind of laddish behaviour!
machoused to describe a man who likes to appear strong and doesn’t show his feelingsHe refuses to cry – it would spoil his macho image!

Favorite Books
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for elementary level (A2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 60 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for Upper-intermediate level (B2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
Table of Contents