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Citation for Data on Effects of Gender Bias in Language
Subject:Citation for Data on Effects of Gender Bias in Language From:John Gear <catalyst -at- PACIFIER -dot- COM> Date:Sat, 2 Nov 1996 18:38:08 -0800
Something that's come up frequently on this list is whether using "he" to
refer to persons of both XX and XY chromosome pairs makes a difference.
While reading elsewhere I came across this passage and citation:
"As just one example, researchers have found that job announcements using
the generic 'he' (a pronoun that supposedly applies to both males and
females) produced considerably fewer female applicants than those that use
more inclusive terms."
The footnote reads:
Bem S.L. and Bem D.J. (1973). "Does sex-biased job advertising "aid and
abet" sex discrimination?" Journal of Applied Psychology, 3, 6-18. For
more examples of the effects of sex bias in language, see Henley N. (1989).
"Molehill or mountain? What we know and don't know about sex bias in
language." In M. Crawford and M. Gentry (Eds.), "Gender and thought" (pp.
59-78). New York: Springer-Verlag.
John Gear (catalyst -at- pacifier -dot- com)
The Bill of Rights -- The ORIGINAL Contract with America
Beware of Imitations. Accept No Substitutes. Insist on the Genuine Articles.
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