A philosophical reflection: On The Irony of Grammatical Gender in Job Titles
In a world steeped in gender inequality, even the most mundane aspects of our (Dutch, French, German, …) language seem to contribute to a subtle yet pervasive form of discrimination. Job titles, for example, which should ostensibly be neutral names for the roles people hold in society, have entrenched themselves in a patriarchal hierarchy in which male forms predominate.
It is noteworthy that in many languages, most positions traditionally have only male designations, without a female counterpart. In languages where grammatical gender plays a role, there are different designations for occupations. Moreover, when there is a female counterpart, people tend to choose the male variant. Not to mention the difference in conception, connotation or interpretation of titles when one contrasts the female variant with the male. (Master – mistress)
In English, where gender is generally not a factor in nouns, one word is often simply used regardless of the person’s gender. The same goes for many other languages where the concept of grammatical gender does not exist or does not apply to professions.
In Dutch, as well as in many other languages, the feminine equivalent is formed by simply adding a feminine suffix to the word, such as “-e” in French or “-in” in German. So, in French, “ingenieur” would become “ingenieure” for a female engineer, and in German it would be “Ingenieurin”. In some cases, there is no female equivalent for a particular job title in the Dutch language: e.g. engineer, judge, professor, … Regardless of whether this is unjust, and/or we should provide a female equivalent for every job title as a function of equality (in casu when grammatically gender plays a role in a given language), it is interesting in itself how an ironic dance of inequality takes place where the masculine forms of titles such as “director”, “entrepreneur” and “doctor” seemingly perpetuate gender inequality.
This phenomenon reflects deep-seated gender inequality and historical prejudice. This issue touches on deeply embedded cultural beliefs about the superiority of men. The fact that male forms of job titles are more highly regarded reflects the stereotypes that still permeate our society. The idea that men are inherently more powerful and competent than women has led, among other things, to the preference for male forms in job titles. This while women are gaining ground in the professional and business world.
Today, the choice of the male form of titles is considered “neutral” because it is the assumed implicit norm. However, this does not mean that the female variants did not exist or are not used. In some cases, female titles such as “director” or “doctoress” are used, but they are often seen as derivatives of the male forms, which only further emphasises the implicit superiority of the male form.
When a woman would voluntarily or on principle choose to use the female variant of her job title, this variant usually sounds inferior. Suppose a female professor were to call herself “professoress”, this might be seen as unusual or even deviant from traditional language usage. Indeed, the use of male job titles as the norm is deeply rooted in historical and cultural contexts in which men were traditionally seen as being dominant and consequently the leading sex. This convention reflects a social norm in which men were seen as the standard and women as the exception. And this rule apparently still holds true today.
That Dutch-speaking women today consciously choose the male variant of their job title may have several reasons or explanations:
- Habituation to traditional terms: In many languages, male forms of job titles have historically been dominant, and people have become accustomed to this convention. The use of feminine variants may therefore feel unusual because it differs from what people are used to.
- Cultural connotations: In some cultures, female variants of job titles may be associated with a particular context or period when women enjoyed less equality in society. As a result, they may be seen as outdated or even derogatory.
- Linguistic aesthetics: Some words simply sound less fluent or aesthetically pleasing than others. This can be the case with female variants of job titles, where the addition of an extra syllable can sometimes interfere with the rhythm or sound of the sentence.
- Gender inequality: The use of female variants of job titles can also be a reminder of the ongoing gender inequality in society, where women are often considered secondary or inferior. This can evoke negative feelings in some people and make the use of female titles seem ridiculous.
- Neutrality and equality: Some women choose to use the male variant of their job title because they strive for neutrality and equality. They do not want their gender to influence the perception of their competence, especially in professional environments where gender inequality can still be an issue.
- Professional recognition: In some cases, using the male variant of a job title can be seen as a way to gain professional recognition. In certain sectors, using the masculine form may be associated with a higher level of expertise or authority. (Read that again!)
- Custom and tradition: In many cases, using the masculine form of a job title is simply a matter of custom and tradition. Historically, job titles have often been used in the masculine form, and this practice may still live on even if there is now more focus on gender inclusivity.
- Less emphasis on gender: By choosing the masculine form of their job titles, women may seek to reduce the emphasis on their gender and instead focus on their professional skills and achievements. This can be especially relevant in contexts where women are underrepresented or face gender bias.
However, it is very important to note that the perception of what sounds “neutral” or is considered “gender-neutral” is in fact only dependent on social and cultural norms and can therefore vary between individuals and communities. While some may find the use of female variants of job titles ridiculous, for others it can actually be an important step towards gender equality and inclusiveness in language use.
There are 2 solutions, each with its own pros and cons:
1. One creates a female equivalent for each job title
2. One abandons the gender distinction linguistically and comes up with a gender-neutral alternative for every existing job title or craft.
1. What if one ‘enforces’ a female equivalent for every job title?
Why would we prefer not to distinguish between male and female variants of job titles? Why shouldn’t a female leader deserve the same recognition and respect as her male counterpart, why shouldn’t she just call herself “leader”? Why does one spontaneously think of a lady leading a youth movement or in charge of a group of children at camp? It is not just a matter of language, but equally a matter of prejudice and erroneous connotations.
Ironically, when men first entered traditionally female professions, such as nursing, they were given a male variant from the outset (A male nurse was initially referred to as “brother”, later “nurse” but never a feminine word in Dutch) and today are naturally greeted with a gender-neutral title (=nurse), while women who first ventured into men’s bastions were marked with a female label. This double standard reveals the deep-rooted gender inequality that still exists in our society. It is high time to address this inequality and recognise that a person’s worth does not depend on their gender.
From a feminist point of view, it seems at first glance logical and fairer that as long as a language is grammatically based on genders, there should be a female counterpart for every masculine word. The downside to this logic is that it is very difficult to get rid of certain prejudices and shake off the negative(er) connotation attached to the female variant. Many female “directors” deliberately choose the male variant because there is a perception that a “directrice” is only reminiscent of a primary school.
It is important to note that this perception of prestige and status between male and female job titles is not inherent in the words themselves, but rather the result of broader social and cultural factors. Even in the most progressive institutions, this inequality persists. Universities, often seen as bastions of intellectual progress, still fail to embrace female variants of job titles (in Dutch,French, German,…) Why do we continue to cling to outdated gender roles at a time when equality should be a central value?
2. Introducing gender-neutral terms
Using gender-neutral terms for job titles is important because it contributes to a more inclusive and equal society. It eliminates gender stereotypes and highlights the professional competence and skills of individuals beyond their gender. This helps create an environment where everyone has equal opportunities and feels free to pursue any career choice, regardless of gender.
But this is where the shoe pinches. Taking all possible considerations and good intentions into account, people always make the choice to apparently postulate the male variant of titles as gender-neutral!
The mostly stated reasons for choosing the male – so called – neutral variant seems to contradict itself because although gender-neutral terms are presented as a means of eliminating gender stereotypes and promoting equality, the emphasis is on the fact that these gender-neutral terms are often actually male variants. This means that the use of these terms does not necessarily promote gender neutrality, but rather the continuation of an existing gender binary norm where the male form is considered the default.
To achieve a truly inclusive and equal society, it is important to rethink language use and move towards true gender neutrality, where job titles do not have any gender connotations and where men and women are equally represented in all aspects of society. This would mean creating new, truly gender-neutral terms that are not based on traditional masculine forms.
Petra D.S.,
Master in Philosophy / Mistress in Philosophy
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash