There has been a growing effort to make our language more inclusive and break down the barriers of gender stereotypes. One way people are doing this is by changing gendered words—words that are specifically male or female—so they work for everyone, no matter their gender identity.

 

De-genderizing words positively helps include everyone, promotes equality, updates our language for modern times, and shows respect for all identities. By using gender-neutral words, we can challenge old stereotypes and focus on what people do, not their gender.

 

However, changing language isn’t always easy. Some people worry that it might be hard to get used to these changes or that it could confuse people. Others feel that keeping traditional words is essential for cultural reasons.

 

 

Gendered Language, Evolved

 

Over the years, language has evolved to better reflect women’s achievements, independence, and leadership roles, asserting quality and promoting positive representations. So, as we celebrate International Women’s History Month 2025, let’s illustrate language’s evolution in shaping perceptions and driving social change. Here’s a list of gendered words and their gender-neutral versions, showing how language can become more inclusive and help break down gender stereotypes.

 

 

Historically, gendered language reinforced job stereotypes as “for men” or “for women.” Many terms are now replaced with gender-neutral alternatives, reflecting progress toward workplace equality.

 

More common examples:

 

 

 

Inclusivity and Use of Gendered Words Are Functionally Important

 

In 2023, we featured a topic about gendered words on RareJob’s Instagram post. Needless to say, though I support de-genderizing words to promote equality, I believe that entirely dismissing their use is unnecessary, as gendered words can be helpful in certain situations where knowing someone’s gender is essential, such as the following:

 

• Crime Investigation: Gender terms help describe suspects or victims accurately.

• Healthcare: Some medical conditions and treatments vary by gender; therefore, specific terms can be necessary.

• Sports: Gender categories ensure fair competition, though there’s ongoing discussion about inclusivity for all athletes.

• Cultural Studies: Gendered language helps understand roles and relationships in different societies.
• Personal Identity: Many people prefer gender-specific terms that match their identity.

 

 

It’s a Femininomenon!

 

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Well-behaved women seldom make history,” so we honor the women who broke through the barriers of gendered words and stereotypes. Here’s a list of terms and phrases that have been redefined in the pursuit of gender empowerment:

 

• Feminist – Formerly seen as a negative term in some historical contexts, now a badge of empowerment and advocacy for gender equality
• Leader – Historically, leadership roles were associated with men, but now women in leadership are increasingly recognized without gendered qualifiers
• Boss – The term “girlboss” was coined to describe women who lead with confidence, though it’s now evolving toward just “boss,” emphasizing the role over gender
• CEO – Women in business and tech, for example, are now often recognized as CEOs (or SheEO) without the need for “female” or “woman” before the title
• Hero – Once predominantly associated with men, now increasingly used to describe women who overcome adversity, such as “shero“
• Trailblazer – Used to describe women who forge new paths, especially in male-dominated industries like science, politics, or business
• Changemaker – Used to describe women leading social or political change, in the same way the term is used for anyone advocating for positive transformation

 

More than just expressions, let us view gendered words as vessels representing symbols of limitlessness, showing how a person’s abilities and roles are not determined by their gender labels. Instead, we must focus on the person’s skills and qualifications rather than reinforcing traditional roles because limiting one’s abilities based on gender norms is so outdated!

 

Other References:
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/inclusive-language/

https://www.un.org/en/gender-inclusive-language/guidelines.shtml

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/language-trends-culture/gender-neutral-language/