Gender

In English grammar, gender refers to the classification of nouns and pronouns based on certain characteristics. It determines the form of pronouns, adjectives, and articles used in relation to the noun.

Oxford English Dictionary: Gender is "the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones)."

Cambridge Dictionary: Gender refers to "the fact of being male or female, or the male or female form of a word."

Merriam-Webster: Gender is defined as "a subclass of linguistic forms that refers to sex or the social roles attributed to males and females in a society."

In English grammar, there are generally three types of gender:

1. Masculine Gender: This refers to nouns that represent male individuals or creatures. For example:

• Boy
• Man
• King
• Father
• Rooster

2. Feminine Gender: This refers to nouns that represent female individuals or creatures. For example:

• Girl
• Woman
• Queen
• Mother
• Hen

3. Neuter Gender: This refers to nouns that do not have a distinct male or female gender. Most inanimate objects and abstract concepts fall into this category. For example:

• Table
• Book
• Car
• Idea
• Happiness

In English grammar, gender-specific nouns are words that indicate the gender of the person, animal, or object they refer to. These nouns typically fall into categories such as masculine, feminine, and sometimes neutral. Here's a breakdown:

1. Masculine Nouns: These nouns refer to male individuals or animals.

• Man, father, brother
• King, prince, uncle
• Rooster, bull, stallion

2. Feminine Nouns: These nouns refer to female individuals or animals.

• Woman, mother, sister
• Queen, princess, aunt
• Hen, cow, mare

3. Gender-Neutral or Common Nouns: Some nouns can refer to both male and female individuals and are not gender-specific.

• Person, friend, parent, sibling
• Teacher, doctor, student
• Child, teacher, officer

4. Some Occupation Nouns with Gender-Specific Forms: Masculine/Feminine Forms.

• Actor/Actress
• Waiter/Waitress
• Manager/Manageress (though "manageress" is rare today)

5. Animals: Many animal species have specific terms based on gender.

• Lion (male), Lioness (female)
• Cock (male), Hen (female)
• Drake (male duck), Duck (female)

6. Neutral Forms: Some words can be used for both males and females in a general or neutral sense.

• Spouse (husband or wife)
• Parent (mother or father)
• Child (son or daughter)

Gender-neutral language in English grammar refers to the use of words and phrases that do not specify gender, ensuring inclusivity for people of all genders. It is important for creating respectful and equitable communication, especially in contexts where gender is irrelevant or unknown.

Here are some key guidelines to use gender-neutral language:

Use "they" as a singular pronoun: Instead of using "he" or "she," use "they" when referring to someone whose gender is unknown or when referring to non-binary individuals.

• Each student should bring their book to class.

Avoid gendered job titles: Instead of using gendered job titles like "waiter" or "waitress," use neutral terms like "server" or "flight attendant."

• The server will take your order shortly.

Use neutral alternatives to "man" or "mankind": Instead of using "man" to refer to people in general, use words like "person," "human," or "individual."

• It is important to treat every person with respect.

Use "partner" instead of "husband" or "wife" when referring to a spouse: This avoids assuming the gender of the person’s spouse.

• They and their partner have been together for five years.

Rewrite sentences to avoid unnecessary gender references: If gender isn't necessary to the context, remove it altogether.

• 'The doctor will see you now' instead of 'The male doctor will see you now'.

In English grammar, pronouns reflect the gender of the noun they replace. There are three primary genders for pronouns:

1. Masculine Gender: This refers to male beings or objects traditionally associated with masculinity.

• Examples: he, him, his

2. Feminine Gender: This refers to female beings or objects traditionally associated with femininity.

• Examples: she, her, hers

3. Neuter Gender: This refers to objects, things, or beings that are neither male nor female, such as inanimate objects or animals when their sex is unknown.

• Examples: it, its

Additionally, gender-neutral pronouns have become more widely recognized and used, especially when referring to individuals whose gender is not specified or is non-binary.

• Examples: they, them, their (singular use)

In English grammar, gender in professions refers to the way certain job titles and professions are gendered, either reflecting the individual's biological sex or the role they occupy. English has traditionally used gendered terms for certain professions, although many of these have become more neutral over time. Here's a breakdown of how gender applies to professions:

1. Gendered Professions (Traditional): Some professions historically had gender-specific terms.

Male-specific terms:

• Actor (historically, "actress" was used for females)
• Waiter (female equivalent: "waitress")
• Steward (female equivalent: "stewardess")

Female-specific terms:

• Nurse (though now, "nurse" is used for both men and women)
• Secretary (now more neutral, with "assistant" being common)
• Queen (as a monarch, but King for a male)

2. Neutralizing Gender in Professions: Many professions today use gender-neutral terms to be inclusive and avoid assumptions based on gender. This shift reflects social changes toward gender equality and awareness.

• Actor/Actress: Now "actor" is used for both men and women in most cases, though "actress" is still sometimes used in the ntertainment industry.
• Waiter/Waitress: "Server" is the neutral term used now.
• Steward/Stewardess: "Flight attendant" is the gender-neutral alternative.
• Police officer: Replaces terms like "policeman" or "policewoman."
• Firefighter: Replaces "fireman."

3. Gender-Neutral Professions (Modern): These terms do not reflect gender at all and can be used to refer to anyone, regardless of sex.

• Doctor (used for both male and female)
• Teacher
• Engineer
• Manager
• CEO

4. Pronouns and Gendered Language in Professions: When referring to people in a professional context, many individuals prefer to use gender-neutral pronouns, especially in industries focused on diversity and inclusion. Some of these are:

• They/Them (for non-binary individuals)
• He/She (depending on the person's gender identity)

5. Modern Trends and Considerations: There's also a growing awareness of non-binary and genderfluid individuals in the workplace. Some people may prefer titles that do not assume their gender identity or may prefer specific pronouns and gender-neutral language in job titles and descriptions.

Gender agreement refers to the correspondence between nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in terms of gender. In English, the primary genders are masculine (for male) and feminine (for female), though some nouns are neutral in gender.

Here's how gender agreement works in English:

Nouns: Some nouns are gender-specific (e.g., "actor" for males, "actress" for females), while others are neutral (e.g., "teacher," "doctor"). In English, the gender of a noun often depends on the person it refers to, but it is not marked on the noun itself in most cases, except for words like "waiter/waitress" or "hero/heroine."

Pronouns: Pronouns must agree with the gender of the noun they replace. For example:

• Masculine: He, him, his (referring to a male)
• Feminine: She, her, hers (referring to a female)
• Neutral: They, them, theirs (used for gender-neutral subjects or when the gender is unknown)

Adjectives: English adjectives do not change based on gender. For instance, "big" or "beautiful" can describe both masculine and feminine nouns without any alteration. For example:

• She is a beautiful woman.
• He is a handsome man.
• They are kind people.

Collective Nouns: Some collective nouns are gender-neutral (e.g., "team," "family"), but others can imply gender. For instance, "mankind" refers to humanity, while "womanhood" refers to the state of being a woman.

Indefinite Pronouns: Words like "someone," "anyone," and "everyone" are gender-neutral. This allows speakers to avoid specifying gender unless it's relevant.

English gender agreement is less strict than in some other languages, where nouns and adjectives must change forms depending on gender.

Possessive and reflexive pronouns can be distinguished by their gender. Here’s a breakdown:

Possessive Pronouns Based on Gender

Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession. They are used instead of a noun to show that something belongs to someone. The possessive pronouns differ by gender in the third person singular:

Masculine:

• My (possessive adjective)
  • This is my book.
• His (possessive pronoun)
  • This book is his.

Feminine:

• My (possessive adjective)
  • This is my book.
• Her (possessive pronoun)
  • This book is hers.

Neuter (for objects or things, without gender):

• Its (possessive adjective)
  • The cat chased its tail.
• Its (possessive pronoun)
  • The dog fetched its bone.

Plural (gender-neutral):

• Our (possessive adjective)
  • This is our house.
• Their (possessive pronoun)
  • This house is theirs.

Reflexive Pronouns Based on Gender

Reflexive pronouns reflect back to the subject of the sentence. They are used when the subject and object of the sentence are the same person or thing:

Masculine:

• Himself
  • Example: He did it himself.

Feminine:

• Herself
  • She prepared the meal herself.

Neuter (for objects or things):

• Itself
  • The cat cleaned itself.

Plural (gender-neutral):

• Themselves
  • They completed the task themselves.

Gender can often lead to mistakes, especially since the language doesn’t always follow strict gender rules like some other languages. Here are some common mistakes with gender:

Using incorrect pronouns: The most common mistake is using the wrong gendered pronouns. For example, using "he" for someone who identifies as female or "she" for someone who identifies as male. It's important to use the pronouns people identify with, and if in doubt, ask.

Misgendering in general: This happens when a person’s gender identity is assumed based on their appearance or name. Using terms like "sir" or "madam" without being certain can cause discomfort. A neutral approach such as using "they" (singular) is often safer when unsure.

Over-generalizing gendered nouns: Some nouns in English are gendered (e.g., waiter/waitress, actor/actress). While this distinction is still common, modern usage has started to favor gender-neutral terms like "server" for waiter/waitress and "actor" for both male and female performers.

Using outdated terms: Words like "policeman" or "fireman" can perpetuate outdated gender stereotypes. Instead, "police officer" and "firefighter" are more appropriate and inclusive terms.

Incorrect usage of gendered possessive pronouns: Sometimes, possessive pronouns such as "his" or "her" are used incorrectly. For example, "She is giving him his book" might confuse gender distinctions. Ensure that the possessive pronoun matches the subject's gender.

Gendered adjectives and professions: Referring to someone’s occupation using gendered adjectives, like "female doctor" or "male nurse," can imply unnecessary distinctions when they are not relevant. Using the profession alone—just "doctor" or "nurse"—is preferred.

Failing to recognize non-binary or gender fluid identities: Non-binary individuals may prefer the pronouns "they/them" or other alternatives. It’s important not to assume someone's gender identity based on societal conventions or appearance.