How to choose words
Expressions like “a female firefighter” or “a male nurse” risk strengthening the perception that it is unusual and strange that a woman and a man have these professions. It is also common to see headlines like “The new CEO is a woman”, while “The new CEO is a man” is significantly more uncommon since it follows the norm.
Use the exercises to discover which words strengthen undesired norms in your organisation and surroundings.
Do the following
Make a list of the expressions that you think strengthen the perception that certain professions or assignments are typical for women and men respectively.
Use the expressions and come up with full sentences, like:
“The female firefighters tried on their new work-clothes.”
“There is a lack of male midwives.”
Discuss
- What happens if you switch the gender in the sentences?
- Are there situations where it can be relevant to tell the gender of a certain person?
