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A Sexist Language? Gender Differences in Attitudes and Use of Gender-Inclusive Pronouns

Remsö, Amanda ; Bäck, Hanna LU orcid and Renström, Emma A. LU (2025) In Journal of Language and Social Psychology 44(5). p.682-703
Abstract

The use of gender-inclusive pronouns aims to make language more inclusive and to reduce biases and prejudices based on gender. Previous research shows that men tend to resist gender-inclusive pronouns more strongly than other individuals. The aim of the current study is to contribute to the understanding of this stronger resistance among men. We hypothesize that men are more negative toward gender-inclusive pronouns and use them less and that this is associated with higher levels of sexism among men. To test this, we analyze cross-sectional survey data from Sweden, which in 2015 was the first country to officially implement a gender-inclusive pronoun—hen. The study is based on three large-scale representative surveys collected in 2015,... (More)

The use of gender-inclusive pronouns aims to make language more inclusive and to reduce biases and prejudices based on gender. Previous research shows that men tend to resist gender-inclusive pronouns more strongly than other individuals. The aim of the current study is to contribute to the understanding of this stronger resistance among men. We hypothesize that men are more negative toward gender-inclusive pronouns and use them less and that this is associated with higher levels of sexism among men. To test this, we analyze cross-sectional survey data from Sweden, which in 2015 was the first country to officially implement a gender-inclusive pronoun—hen. The study is based on three large-scale representative surveys collected in 2015, 2018, and 2021 (total N = 4,987), analyzing Swedish native speakers’ attitudes toward hen and use of hen. The results show that across all time points, men were more likely to hold negative attitudes toward hen and used hen less; men were also higher in sexism, and sexism was associated with stronger resistance toward gender-inclusive pronouns. These findings contribute to the understanding of (men's) persistent resistance toward gender-inclusive pronouns and specifically the role of sexism in such resistance.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
gender, gender-inclusive, language attitudes, pronouns, sexism
in
Journal of Language and Social Psychology
volume
44
issue
5
pages
22 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:105003998420
ISSN
0261-927X
DOI
10.1177/0261927X251335305
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9782b4d4-bc83-4fd7-aeb1-c51bce844812
date added to LUP
2025-09-16 12:04:42
date last changed
2025-10-14 15:37:53
@article{9782b4d4-bc83-4fd7-aeb1-c51bce844812,
  abstract     = {{<p>The use of gender-inclusive pronouns aims to make language more inclusive and to reduce biases and prejudices based on gender. Previous research shows that men tend to resist gender-inclusive pronouns more strongly than other individuals. The aim of the current study is to contribute to the understanding of this stronger resistance among men. We hypothesize that men are more negative toward gender-inclusive pronouns and use them less and that this is associated with higher levels of sexism among men. To test this, we analyze cross-sectional survey data from Sweden, which in 2015 was the first country to officially implement a gender-inclusive pronoun—hen. The study is based on three large-scale representative surveys collected in 2015, 2018, and 2021 (total N = 4,987), analyzing Swedish native speakers’ attitudes toward hen and use of hen. The results show that across all time points, men were more likely to hold negative attitudes toward hen and used hen less; men were also higher in sexism, and sexism was associated with stronger resistance toward gender-inclusive pronouns. These findings contribute to the understanding of (men's) persistent resistance toward gender-inclusive pronouns and specifically the role of sexism in such resistance.</p>}},
  author       = {{Remsö, Amanda and Bäck, Hanna and Renström, Emma A.}},
  issn         = {{0261-927X}},
  keywords     = {{gender; gender-inclusive; language attitudes; pronouns; sexism}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{682--703}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Journal of Language and Social Psychology}},
  title        = {{A Sexist Language? Gender Differences in Attitudes and Use of Gender-Inclusive Pronouns}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0261927X251335305}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0261927X251335305}},
  volume       = {{44}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}