Sexist Language

 Postman Postal Worker

More and more, writers are avoiding the use of sexist language. Instead of using the word postman, maybe they're using an alternative like a postal worker. Using man instead of a more gender-neutral term can be considered controversial since it puts men as the default and neglects other gender expressions. In The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers it states, “To avoid sending the wrong message, it’s worth making the effort to avoid sexist language,” (Ballenger 220). My question asks (1) Should we include literature in our writing that contains sexist language? And (2) Should we censor literature that contains sexist language? Shortly, my answers are (1) yes and (2) no.

Including Sexist Language?

Literature that includes sexist language should absolutely be included in our writing (hear me out). Quoting or paraphrasing material that includes sexist, or even racist, ableist, etc. language can be a beneficial way of characterizing the author of the writing. It can indicate the time period in which something is written or the author's beliefs and intentions. However, when quoting or paraphrasing information with sexist language it is important to make your reasoning for including that type of language clear. This can be addressed by providing historical context about when the material was written or a statement about the person's beliefs. Writing with lots of offensive language can be addressed in the introduction. A strategy for introductions listed in the article “Introductions and Conclusions” states to give “background information necessary for understanding the essay,” (Freedman and Plotnick). Adding information about why your writing contains controversial language in the introduction can be a beneficial way of clearly stating your ethics, thus, making your writing easier to understand.

Censoring

No, we shouldn't censor literature that contains sexist language. First of all, that would take too long but, also, as I stated before, literature that contains sexist language says a lot about the time period the work was written, the author's beliefs, and potentially the author's geographical location (more patriarchal area vs. less patriarchal area). Teaching history in this way can also be specifically beneficial to students. In “The Book I Never Got to Read: A Tale of Book Censorship” the author discusses how books that have been censored in recent times can teach students history and says, “Teaching history to students allows for past lessons to be understood, lessens the chance of repeating mistakes in history, and creates an opening for students to form their own opinions on history, the current present, and the future.” By keeping literature uncensored of sexist language, students can be more cognizant of how things were written, which will help them with their own writing.

Sexist Section Headings?

Section headers are effective and commonly used tools in academic writing. Should sexist language be used in these? I think they can, particularly if the writing specifically tackles sexism. Sexist headings can be used in a sort of ironic/mocking type of way to introduce a point. For example, it could say:

• “Women can’t be policemen!” - Person Mcpersonson
• Why would a woman ever want to be a congressman?

The worksheet, “Using Section Headings” by Grand Valley State University Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors states that headings can help readers get the “gist” of your document (1). By including section headings like the examples above, readers would easily pick up on your tone and stance on an argument involving sexism. 

Works Cited

Ballenger, Bruce. The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers. Eighth ed., Pearson, 2015. 

Everett, Courtney. “The Book I Never Got to Read: A Tale of Book Censorship.” Emerging Writers, 2022, https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/emergingwriters/vol5/iss1/7/. 

Freedman , Leora, and Jerry Plotnick. “Introductions and Conclusions.” University of Toronto Writing Advice, https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/intros-and-conclusions/. 

Grand Valley State University Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors. Using Headings. https://www.gvsu.edu/cms4/asset/CC3BFEEB-C364-E1A1-A5390F221AC0FD2D/creative_writing_reflective_writing_gg_final.pdf.