Introduction
Gender Neutral terms refer to English words that avoid bias towards a particular social gender or sex. The words include nouns not gender specific and professions and roles that do not specify sex. They allow you to use concerning non-binary persons without categorizing them into any gender. Below are such terms.
- They
Traditionally used to describe individuals in the third person, this term has since the 14th century been used widely to refer to a single person. Great authors have used it to describe people who either go by the pronoun or whose gender is not known. So, using it when referring to transgender persons goes a long way in upholding the privacy.
- Worker
Drop gendered languages like postman as the default term and instead use post worker in your day to day speech. Any word that ends in man is not gender neutral, and you should not employ when talking about transgender individuals. Any term that excludes women, by extension, is not ideal for non-binary individuals.
- Partner
Boyfriends and girlfriends are some of the titles transgender people have a hard time using because they do not identify themselves as men or women. They also expose LGBTQ persons, who are against revealing the gender of their partners, to ridicule. The term partner deters such unfortunate situations and makes everybody comfortable.
- Humankind
Rather than using mankind and man when referring to an individual, always use the term humankind. This way, women and non-binary people will be included in the history. It also eradicates the biased notion that men are intellectually and physically more superior to women. So, always use mankind to be fair to both women and transgender guys.
- Artificial
Artificial is the opposite of natural. Many people regularly use the word manmade as a synonym of artificial forgetting that it has the word man and as such is biased to the male gender. However, women and people who do not identify themselves as men or women feel excluded. The solution is to always use artificial.
- Flight attendant
The alternatives to using this term are steward and stewardess both of which refer to a specific gender and as such do not put into consideration the plight of non-binary individuals. However, making a conscious effort to always use flight attendant seems to work both for gendered and non-gendered people.
- Folks
Some people are fond of using ladies, gentlemen and guys. However, all these terms excludes persons who do not identify themselves as men or women. Folks or even everybody, on the other hand, is neutral and includes all and sundry. Use the term when addressing crowds and you will talk to all the attendees regardless of their gender affiliations, or lack thereof.
Conclusion
Sexual orientations and genders are not only highly personal but also continually evolving. So, in recognition of the presence of non-binary persons always use a language that does not specify one’ gender. The above list is just but a guideline. In general, avoid using any term that discloses the gender or even uses the word man or woman.