1. Home
  2. Volume 02 Issue 10 October 2023
  3. October 2023

October 2023

Gender-Inclusive Language of Office Communications in an Academic Setting

Rinalynn L. Borito
Ph.D. College of Education
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijirme.2023.v2i10n01

Abstract

This paper was pursued to determine if gender-inclusive language is used in office communications of a higher educational institution in Laguna, and from the results may propose an action plan to sustain or improve the gender and development programs of the university. Using the descriptive method, office communications in the form of memos and employees from the focal office were evaluated if they utilized gender-inclusive language as stated in the Magna Carta of Women. The results of the study showed that only 4% of office communication does not use gender-inclusive language. Also, the findings showed that 100% of the employee respondents in the Human Resources Department scored low on the Gender Inclusive Language Test, interpreted as being unaware of gender-inclusive language. It is then concluded that the higher educational institution in Laguna utilizes gender-inclusive language in its office communication in the form of business correspondences and office memos. The researcher recommends that the action plan proposed be implemented. Also, the Gender and Development Department should create programs and policies and be actively in charge of all concerns regarding gender development, awareness, and sensitivity. This research endeavors that the budget allocated for gender and development in the university be properly utilized in the form of training and seminars which may, among its programs, focus on gender sensitivity and gender-inclusive language.

Keywords:

gender-inclusive language, gender, and development, office communications

References:

1) Bent, S. (2022, October 31). "Guys": the new 4-letter word (and how we tried to say it less). Retrieved from Hotjar: https://www.hotjar.com/blog/gender-inclusive-language-workplace/

2) Civil Service Commission. (2005, March 31). Retrieved from https://www.csguide.org/: https://www.csguide.org/items/show/538

3) Drake, A. (2020, June 23). An Employer’s Guide to Using Gender-Inclusive Language in the Workplace. Retrieved from learn.g2.com: https://learn.g2.com/gender-inclusive-language

4) Government of Canada. (n.d.). Test yourself—Gender-Neutral Writing: Questions of Usage. Retrieved from Government of Canada: https://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/en/pecks-english- pointers/pep-quiz/usage-7-gender-neutral-writing-questions-usage-quiz

5) Ludbrook, G. (2022, January 1). From Gender-Neutral to Gender-Inclusive English. The Search for Gender-Fair Language. Retrieved from Ca'Foscari University of Venice ARCA: https://iris.unive.it/handle/10278/5013062?mode=complete

6) McCombes, S. (2019, October 10). Descriptive Research | Definition, Types, Methods & Examples. Retrieved from Scribbr: https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/descriptive-research/

7) Perales, F., Ablaza, C., & Elkin, N. (2022, March). Exposure to Inclusive Language and Well-Being at Work Among Transgender Employees in Australia, 2020. American Public Health Association. Retrieved from https://ajph.aphapublications.org: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306602

8) Philippine Commission on Women. (2014, December 19). Retrieved from pcw.gov.ph: https://pcw.gov.ph/pcw-memorandum-circular-no-2014-06-promoting-the-use-of-gender- sensitive-language-in-legislative-measures/

9) Remigio, M. T., & Talosa, A. D. (2021, September). Students General Attitude in Gender-Inclusive Language, International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, v10 n3 p864-870 Sep 2021. Retrieved from Institute of Education Series: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1313111

10) Rose, D. (2021, August 9). Why It's Important to Use Gender-Inclusive Language at Work. Philippines.

11) STEM Women. (2021, July 2). STEM Women. Retrieved from stemwomen.com: https://www.stemwomen.com/the-importance-of-gender-neutral-language-in-the-workplace

12) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2022, October 6). UNODC. Retrieved from Guide: gender-inclusive communication: https://www.unodc.org/documents/Gender/gender_sentitive_language/Gender- sensitiveCommsGuide-English-final.pdf

13) United Nations. (n.d.). un.org. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/gender-inclusive- language/index.shtml: https://www.un.org

14) University of the Philippines. (2010, July 9). Retrieved from https://cws.up.edu.ph/wp- content/uploads/RA-9710-Magna-Carta-of-Women.pdf

15) Vizcarra-Garcia, J. (2021, March 30). Teachers’ Perceptions of Gender Inclusive Language in the Classroom. Retrieved from International Journal of Linguistics, Literature, and Translation: https://al-kindipublisher.com/index.php/ijllt/article/view/1410