*Disclaimer: This article solely focuses on analyzing sexist language without discussing grammatical genders.
When the famous feminist writer Virginia Woolf stated: “I am not a woman. I am a writer,” she unintentionally touched on a profound truth: language not only describes reality, but also establishes it. In the 21st century, we are witnessing a quiet yet powerful language revolution which demands that each word and phrase be more inclusive and equitable.
LANGUAGE - A MIRROR REFLECTING GENDER BIAS
Language, an expression system, though seemingly innocuous, can conceal deeply rooted bias and silently shape perceptions and reinforce gender inequalities in society. In addition to the gender-neutral language system, gendered language still exists. At first glance, such language may appear to merely distinguish male from female, but in reality, it often perpetuates inequality, reflecting traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
Many languages elevate the status of men while downplaying the role of women. This is most evident in the use of male terms as generic references for all genders. For instance, in the sentence “Each student must submit his homework on time”, although the word “student” is a neutral noun, the pronoun “his” is male-specific. A similar situation exists in Vietnamese with the term “thầy” (male teacher). Although it is a masculine word, “thầy” is often used as a generic term for teachers regardless of sex. In Vietnamese communication culture, phrases like “thầy trò” or “quan hệ thầy trò”(male teacher-student relationship) are common, whereas “cô trò” (female teacher-student relationship) is rarely used. This reflects a societal norm that assumes maleness as the default, reinforcing male-centered language. Furthermore, linguistic inequality is also reflected through the absence of vocabulary for women in high-prestige professions. These are also known as gender-specific job titles, terms used to refer to occupations that inherently imply or specify the gender of the person performing the job. To describe women in roles such as lawyers, directors, judges, or doctors, people often add gender markers like “cô,” “chị,” or “nữ” — for example, “nữ luật sư” (female lawyer), “cô giám đốc” (female director). This reflects an ingrained belief that women are not the default holders of such positions, thus requiring a separate label.
In addition, linguistic discrimination against women is also expressed through the meaning of female-specific words. While masculine words are often associated with physical strength and talent, feminine words are linked to attractiveness and sexual arousal. This has been mentioned by Sally McConnell-Ginet (1980) in “Linguistics and the Feminist Challenge”: “It seems plausible, for example, that the acquisition of negative (and often specifically sexual) meanings by once neutral terms for denoting women that we have just noted is somehow connected to widespread misogyny and views that women are mainly sexual beings”. A typical example is the word “aphrodisiac”, which derived from the original word “Aphrodite” – name of the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology. This discrimination is also shown in old-fashioned English usage: while “He is professional” could be understood as “He is an expert in the field,” “She is professional”1 implied that “She is a prostitute.” In Vietnamese, the phrase “trai tài gái sắc” (talented men and beautiful women) encapsulates a similar gender dichotomy: men are valued for intellect and capability, while women are judged by physical appearance. Even intelligent and capable women may be undervalued if they do not meet certain beauty standards. Moreover, not only is female-specific language linked to sexuality, but it is also used with negative connotations. In patriarchal society, “good” values are associated with masculinity (strength, confidence, bravery) while negative traits are feminized (weakness, indecisiveness, dependency). Dunn and Miller once wrote: “Attitudes of disgust and contempt toward female sexuality have created a massive vocabulary of anti-woman expressions that no dictionary can fully record”. In many years, many hurricanes and storms were named after women: Hazel (1954), Diane (1955), Audrey (1957), Flora (1963), Cleo (1964), Hilda (1964), Dora (1964), Diana (1990), Fran (1996), Allison (2001), Iris (2001), Lili (2002), etc. In daily contexts, the phrase “thằng đàn bà” (a womanly man) in “Anh ta là thằng đàn bà!” (He is such a womanly man!) is used to demean men by associating them with traits culturally coded as feminine: weakness, indecisiveness, and dependency.
Although the majority of language discrimination is against women, it is undeniable that men are also suffering from gender stereotypes in language. In some cases, language omits men entirely by using only female terms, leading to the total absence of men in expressions. There are typical examples in English, such as “mother tongue”, “mother wit”, “mother of invention”, and so on. Likewise, in Vietnamese, there are no male-included equivalents to công ty mẹ (parent company), mẫu quốc (motherland), lãi mẹ (interest), etc. Moreover, men also face societal expectations that dictate how they should behave: they are expected to be strong, decisive, and chivalrous. If they fail to conform to these established norms, they are often insulted with terms such as “mama’s boy”, “mollycoddle”, or “milksop”, all of which carry the common implication of being weak or overly sensitive.
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis suggests that language not only describes reality but also deeply shapes the way we think and perceive the world around us. Many sociological studies have shown that when children are exposed to gender bias language, they might grow up internalizing invisible gender limitations. Therefore, any form of gender-discriminatory language, no matter how subtle, has the risk of reinforcing stereotypes and gender norms in the users’ mindsets. It is for this reason that the concept of gender-neutral language was born as a conscious effort to eliminate gender bias in communication, promoting a fairer and more equal system of expression.
THE GLOBAL CHANGE
Language reform plays a crucial role in the journey of forming a gender-equal society that respects all gender identities. Nowadays, the use of gender-inclusive language has become widespread. In English, instead of using gendered language such as “mankind” to refer to people in general, there is a shift toward using “humanity”, a term that carries the same meaning but without gender bias. Gender-specific job titles are also being replaced, such as “chairperson” replacing “chairman”, “firefighter” replacing “fireman”, and so on. In recent years, the language used in the media has evolved to adopt gender-inclusive expressions. Another example could be found in Vietnamese: the phrase "người giáo viên, giảng viên" (teacher, lecturer) replaces “thầy” (male teacher) to indicate that this job is for both men and women. Moreover, the use of the phrases "đối tác tài xế" (driver) or "nhân viên vệ sinh" (janitor), instead of "chú xe ôm" (male motorbike driver) or "cô lao công" (female janitor) also show the respect and appreciation to all genders in this field. An increasing number of organizations, schools, and government agencies worldwide have adapted their terms to be inclusive of all gender identities. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) has promulgated a Gender-Inclusive Language Policy to foster a welcoming environment for all students. This policy requires school publications to use gender-inclusive language. Leaders such as Deans and Vice-principals take responsibility for ensuring the policy is strictly followed in their management.
Besides, using gender-neutral pronouns such as “they/them” in English is now common in online conversations as well as official documents. This transformation not only helps individuals easily identify their sexual orientation but also not be limited by traditional forms. St Paul's Girls' School, a private day school for girls in London, has introduced a new gender identity policy allowing students from 16 years old to be called by their chosen pronouns. This introduction not only encourages students to express themselves but also builds a positive atmosphere where they feel heard and accepted.
Language reform is not a grammatical or lexical change but a revolution in gender perception. With that, people remove gender biases and learn to respect everyone regardless of their gender identity
THE IMPACT
Once this trend is widespread in the modern world, it will not only influence language changes but also make profound shifts. First and foremost, it is a breakthrough in linguistic stereotypes that perpetuate traditional gender roles, helping release nonsensical rules that have existed for centuries. The prestigious Oscar Awards ceremony made a historic decision by renaming the category “The Best Actress/Actor” to “The Best Leading Performance” to follow the gender quality trend in the film industry and respect all non-binary actors. This was the pioneering step in the revolution of promoting gender equality for artists, writing a new chapter of recognizing talent generations beyond their gender.
Secondly, gender-inclusive language brings a sense of confidence and inclusivity. This point of view is especially true for a small group of transgenders or non-binary/genderqueer. Many people in this group might feel uncomfortable and disrespected when called by unwanted pronouns (such as “he/she” instead of “they/them”). Once gender-inclusive language becomes popular, this group could be called and recognized by their chosen identity, boosting confidence and opening opportunities for them to show off. In Viet Nam, according to the iSEE survey in 2023, there were up to 85% of 500 people in the LGBTQ+ community who feel willing to dedicate themselves to their workplace or school if they receive respect in language.
Moreover, using gender-inclusive language promotes respect in communication as well as minimizes discrimination and reshapes the standard. When words are chosen discretely, avoiding gender-biased expressions, a safe environment will be created where people feel comfortable expressing themselves without worry of being judged. This is extremely important in public places such as schools, offices, or communities where neutral language could help remove invisible barriers. The campaign “Name Right, Grant Rights” (2020-2022), initiated by iSEE, focuses on changing language and raising awareness of LGBT+ in schools has impacted significantly on both teachers' and students' mindsets. The aim was to evoke empathy and change people's presumptions of genders by allowing individuals to tell their own stories about being called by the wrong pronouns. As a result, the campaign has successfully spread the message: Schools would only be a place of happiness when students feel free to express themselves and are truly identified by those around them.
Last but not least, language reform is dramatically reshaping cultures as well as social standards. Language is not merely a mirror reflecting reality but it also actively shapes the world we live in. Once gender-inclusive language becomes worldwide and registered in our subconscious, it would break all outdated beliefs of gender. An experiment by Prewitt-Freilino, Caswell, and Laakso titled "The gendering of language: A comparison of gender equality in countries with gendered, natural gender, and genderless languages” (2012) showed that countries that uses neutral language or non-binary language would achieve a high level of gender equality, including a high rate of female leaders. This shows that language plays an essential role in raising awareness of gender and power.This effect is mainly true for the young generation – those under 25 – showing that language could shape mindsets powerfully.When raised in such an environment, this generation will grow to be open-minded citizens who set a foundation for a progressive society where distinction is appreciated and equality becomes the core value.
LANGUAGE OF THE FUTURE
It is undeniable that the transformation of gendered language is a challenging process as it triggered a wave of reactions across different language communities. This is because language habits are deeply ingrained in the minds and subconscious of users. Changing language isn’t just about choosing different words or grammar—it also involves a shift in mindset, perception, and understanding of gender. Besides, the transition from gendered to inclusive language can disrupt and distort the entire linguistic systems that have long been established and unified. A clear example can be observed in languages such as French, German, or Spanish, where grammatical gender is inherently assigned to the vast majority of nouns, adjectives, and pronouns. Therefore, efforts to “neutralise” these languages carry the risk of unsettling their structure and sparking considerable controversy within their speaker communities. Moreover, many people believe that language is a means of reflecting the history, traditions, culture, and society of a community. As a result, modifying it might be perceived as erasing long-standing cultural values. Consequently, language reform is a long journey in which advocates for this movement must face numerous criticisms and obstacles to unify a more civilised and equitable linguistic form.
While the future is never a straightforward path paved with ease, the world has been and continues to strive to create a fair mode of communication aligned with profound transformations in social awareness in the age of globalisation, diversity, and respect for human rights. Influential international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) have published detailed guidelines on the use of inclusive language in official documents, speeches, and formal statements: “The Guidelines available on this website include a number of recommendations to help United Nations staff to use gender-inclusive language in any type of communication — oral or written, formal or informal, or addressed to an internal or external audience”. These guidelines are not only a call for change but have also become mandatory standards across various professions, particularly in fields that greatly influence public awareness and societal structures, such as diplomacy, education, scientific research, and mass communication. This affirms the importance of inclusive language and propels a wave of transformation in the way people communicate.
In addition, in today’s digital world where technology plays an integral role in everyday life, software companies have increasingly promoted the use of gender-neutral language by implementing gendered language detection. Grammar checkers and word processors like Grammarly, Microsoft Word, or Google Docs have integrated rule sets to identify gender-biased language and suggest inclusive alternatives. Many social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook have also added options for gender-neutral pronouns in user profiles. These updates not only highlight the significance of inclusive language but also help users feel respected and acknowledged.
Từ đó, trong tương lai gần, ngôn ngữ bao hàm sẽ không còn là loại ngôn ngữ được khuyến khích sử dụng mà sẽ trở thành chuẩn mực xã hội và được áp dụng rộng rãi trong các quy tắc giao tiếp, làm việc ở nhiều tổ chức, cơ quan chuyên nghiệp. Điều này còn là dấu hiệu đáng mừng rằng: con người đang dần thay đổi tích cực và mạnh mẽ để trở nên bình đẳng, văn minh và công bằng hơn.
Reference materials:
1 According to "Xã hội học" Journal, issue No. 2, 2004, pages 25–38
2 According to “Policy on gender inclusive language"“
3 According to "St Paul’s Girls’ School Adopted an Inclusive Gender Policy” (Teen Vogue)
Authors: Nguyễn Quỳnh Anh, Nguyễn Thị Bảo Ngân
Translators: Huỳnh Phương Anh, Ngô Tâm Đan, Nguyễn Thanh Hải
English 
Vietnamese
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