Research
Leader still means man, and language does not change that, according to study
Phys.org ·
The Brief
- An international study conducted in 42 countries found that gender-inclusive language has little impact on the stereotype that a political leader is a man.
- The study involved researchers from SWPS University.
- The findings suggest that introducing gender-inclusive forms into language does not change how people associate leadership with men.
Why it matters
It suggests that changing language alone may not be enough to weaken deeply ingrained gender stereotypes about political leadership, which matters for anyone working on gender equality or inclusive communication.
Who’s affected
- researchers in psychology and linguistics
- anyone interested in gender stereotypes and inclusive language
- #gender stereotypes
- #inclusive language
- #political leadership
- #psychology
- #linguistics
Can gender-inclusive language weaken the deeply ingrained stereotype that a political leader is a man? A recent international study, conducted in 42 countries and involving researchers from SWPS University, shows that introducing such forms into language has little impact on how…