Gender-Neutral Language

Gender-neutral language was a highly featured topic this week. Updates on HIV care guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America discusses how healthcare workers should use gender-neutral language. The article continued mentioning how forms and medical records should also be gender-neutral stating, “Transgender and gender-diverse persons with HIV should have access to gender-affirming, nondiscriminatory, nonstigmatizing, and culturally sensitive care.” Multiple articles discussed Oxford Dictionary recently making gender-neutral changes to their definition of a woman and man. The definition for a woman and a man now have gender-neutral references to “sexual attractiveness or activity”. A woman is now described as “a person’s wife, girlfriend, or female lover” instead of “a man’s” and the definition of a man followed the same gender-neutral structure. 

Association of Summer Olympic International Federations members recently approved a motion that ensures the use of gender-neutral language. Several articles discussed the recent changes City Councilmembers in Portland, Oregon made to their city’s charter. The charter will now include gender-neutral language, removing all masculine and feminine terms. In similar news, the Portage School Board in Wisconsin has voted to remove gender specific language in district documents and replace them with gender-neutral pronouns. 

Meanwhile the Scituate Board of Selectmen in Massachusetts will vote later this week on whether they will change their titles to gender-neutral ones or not. These changes would include changing from “Board of Selectmen” to “Select Board”, “selectman” to “Select Board member”, and “chairman” to “chair/chairperson”.