Navigating Gender Terms
Suggestions for Modifying “Gender” to Exclude LGBT Interpretations
The following chart contains suggestions for replacing or modifying highly problematic “gender” terms.
| PROBLEMATIC TERMS | SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT TERMS OR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS |
|---|---|
| "gender" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "sex" or "male or female status." |
| "sex, gender, age, race, etc." | DELETE: "sex." Lists that include both "gender" and "sex" will encompass gender identity. See "Gender Identity" section. |
| "gender analysis" | REPLACE WITH: "an analysis based on sex." |
| "gender based" | REPLACE WITH: "sex based." |
| "gender-based approaches" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "approaches that address the needs of women" or "approaches that promote women's equality." |
| "gender-based discrimination" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "sex-based discrimination" or "discrimination based on sex" or "discrimination against women." |
| "gender-based violence" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "violence against women" or "violence based on a person's sex" or "sex-based violence." |
| "gender bias" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "bias against women or men" or "bias based on a person's sex." |
| "gender dimensions" | DELETE: Too vague. |
| "gender diverse" | DELETE: There are only two sexes. |
| "gender equality" | REPLACE WITH: "women's equality" or "equality between the sexes" or "equality between women and men." |
| "gender framework" | REPLACE WITH: "women's equality framework." |
| "gender identity" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "male or female status." |
| "gender identities" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "male or female status." (There are only two sexes.) |
| "gender inequality" | REPLACE WITH: "women's inequality" or "inequality between the sexes" or "inequality between women and men." |
| "gender mainstreaming" | REPLACE WITH: "mainstreaming equal opportunities for women and girls" or ADD: "to eliminate inequalities between women and men" or "to ensure equality between women and men" or "to ensure the equal/equitable treatment of women and men (or between women and men)." |
| "gender nonconformity" | DELETE |
| "gender norms" or "harmful gender norms" | REPLACE WITH: "norms for males or females" or REPLACE WITH: "norms that perpetuate unjust discrimination against women" or "norms that promote inequality for women/girls." |
| "gender parity" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "women's equality." |
| "gender perspectives" | REPLACE WITH: "women's perspectives" or "perspectives that promote the equal treatment of women and men" or "that ensure women and men and girls and boys are treated equitably" or "perspectives that are sensitive to the needs of women/girls." |
| "gender quota" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "women's equality." |
| "gender-responsive budgeting" or "gender-sensitive budgeting" | ADD: "that ensures equal access to resources for women." |
| "gender roles" | REPLACE WITH: "roles of women or men." |
| "gender sensitive" | REPLACE WITH: "effective." |
| "gender-sensitive education" | REPLACE WITH: "equal education for women/girls" or "education sensitive to the needs of women/girls" or "equal education for girls and boys." |
| "gender-sensitive legislation/policies" | REPLACE WITH: "legislation/policies sensitive to the needs of women" or "legislation/policies that promotes equality between women and men." |
| "gender-sensitive measures/indicators" | DELETE: "gender-sensitive" or REPLACE WITH: "measures/indicators that focus on women." |
| "gender-sensitive services" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "services that take into account the different needs of women/girls." |
| "gender statistics" | REPLACE WITH: "sex disaggregated." |
| "gender stereotypes" | DELETE or ADD: "that promote inequalities between women and men." |
| "gender transformative policies" | REPLACE WITH: "policies that empower women and girls" or "policies that ensure equality between women and men" or "policies to ensure the equal/equitable treatment of women and men." |
| "gender variance" | DELETE: There are only two sexes. |
| "transgender" | DELETE |
| "transgender female" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "a male who identifies as a female." |
| "transgender male" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "a female who identifies as a male." |
| "gender-reassignment surgery" or "sex change" or "sex- reassignment surgery" or "gender-affirming/confirming surgery" | DELETE or REPLACE WITH: "cross-sex surgery." (A "sex change" is a biological impossibility. One cannot change one's sex.) |