Normative gender bias : Effects of pronoun forms on mental representations of individuals with different gender expressions
(2022) Gender and Sexuality at Work- Abstract
- Gender-fair language planning aims to increase linguistic inclusion of underrepresented groups, for example by using paired pronouns (he/she) instead of generic masculine forms (he). However, using paired binary forms might evoke a normative gender bias where words lead to stronger associations to individuals with normative gender expressions than to individuals with non-normative gender expressions. In two online experiments in a simulated recruitment context, we compared the extent that the paired pronouns he/she (Swedish and English), the neo-pronouns hen (Swedish) and ze (English), and singular they (English), evoked a normative gender bias for Swedish- (N = 227 and 268) and English- (N = 600) speaking participants. The results showed... (More)
- Gender-fair language planning aims to increase linguistic inclusion of underrepresented groups, for example by using paired pronouns (he/she) instead of generic masculine forms (he). However, using paired binary forms might evoke a normative gender bias where words lead to stronger associations to individuals with normative gender expressions than to individuals with non-normative gender expressions. In two online experiments in a simulated recruitment context, we compared the extent that the paired pronouns he/she (Swedish and English), the neo-pronouns hen (Swedish) and ze (English), and singular they (English), evoked a normative gender bias for Swedish- (N = 227 and 268) and English- (N = 600) speaking participants. The results showed that the paired pronouns he/she evoked a normative gender bias, whereas Swedish hen did not. In contrast to hen, ze and singular they did evoke a normative gender bias. However, among participants familiar with ze as a non-binary pronoun, it seemed to reduce a normative gender bias, while familiarity had no effect regarding singular they. These results suggest that neo-pronouns, but not paired pronouns, have the potential to reduce a normative gender bias, but that they should be actively created new words, and well-known to the language users as non-binary pronouns. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/d4edbcd7-8734-4019-b93a-a27a628c0fff
- author
- Klysing, Amanda LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-02-15
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- gender-fair language, normative gender bias, pronouns, gender expression, linguistic representation
- conference name
- Gender and Sexuality at Work
- conference location
- Melbourne, Australia
- conference dates
- 2022-02-15 - 2022-02-15
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d4edbcd7-8734-4019-b93a-a27a628c0fff
- alternative location
- https://fbe.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/4100221/2022-GSW-Conference-Proceedings.pdf
- date added to LUP
- 2022-02-09 14:22:43
- date last changed
- 2022-12-02 15:24:23
@misc{d4edbcd7-8734-4019-b93a-a27a628c0fff,
abstract = {{Gender-fair language planning aims to increase linguistic inclusion of underrepresented groups, for example by using paired pronouns (he/she) instead of generic masculine forms (he). However, using paired binary forms might evoke a normative gender bias where words lead to stronger associations to individuals with normative gender expressions than to individuals with non-normative gender expressions. In two online experiments in a simulated recruitment context, we compared the extent that the paired pronouns he/she (Swedish and English), the neo-pronouns hen (Swedish) and ze (English), and singular they (English), evoked a normative gender bias for Swedish- (N = 227 and 268) and English- (N = 600) speaking participants. The results showed that the paired pronouns he/she evoked a normative gender bias, whereas Swedish hen did not. In contrast to hen, ze and singular they did evoke a normative gender bias. However, among participants familiar with ze as a non-binary pronoun, it seemed to reduce a normative gender bias, while familiarity had no effect regarding singular they. These results suggest that neo-pronouns, but not paired pronouns, have the potential to reduce a normative gender bias, but that they should be actively created new words, and well-known to the language users as non-binary pronouns.}},
author = {{Klysing, Amanda}},
keywords = {{gender-fair language; normative gender bias; pronouns; gender expression; linguistic representation}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{02}},
title = {{Normative gender bias : Effects of pronoun forms on mental representations of individuals with different gender expressions}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/113894836/Klysing_GSW_presentation.mov}},
year = {{2022}},
}