Gender-Neutral Language Substitutions

This rule enforces the use of gender-neutral and inclusive language by identifying and flagging gendered terms, suggesting more inclusive alternatives. The rule aims to promote respectful, professional communication that avoids gender-specific terms when gender is not relevant to the meaning.

The motivation behind this rule is important: gendered language can perpetuate stereotypes, exclude certain groups, and create bias in communication. Using gender-neutral alternatives helps create more inclusive documentation and content that respects all readers regardless of their gender identity.

Examples:

  • Flags "fireman" → Suggests "firefighter"
  • Flags "policeman" or "policewoman" → Suggests "police officer"
  • Flags "chairman" → Suggests "chair"
  • Flags "stewardess" → Suggests "flight attendant"
  • Flags "mankind" → Suggests "human kind"
  • Flags "workman" → Suggests "worker"
  • Flags "congresswoman" → Suggests "member of congress"
  • Flags "authoress" → Suggests "author"
  • Flags "salesmen" → Suggests "salesperson" or "sales people"

The rule uses regular expressions to match various forms of gendered terms (including plural forms and variations) and provides appropriate gender-neutral alternatives. It operates case-insensitively and is set to trigger as an error-level warning, with an automatic replacement action available.

Rule Source

This rule comes from: https://github.com/mesosphere/dcos-docs-site

Rule Definition

extends: substitution
message: Consider using '%s' instead of '%s'.
ignorecase: true
level: error
action:
  name: replace
swap:
  (?:alumnae|alumni):          graduates
  (?:alumna|alumnus):          graduate
  air(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):      pilot(s)
  anchor(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   anchor(s)
  authoress:                   author
  camera(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   camera operator(s)
  chair(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):    chair(s)
  congress(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n): member(s) of congress
  door(?:m[ae]|wom[ae]n):      concierge(s)
  draft(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):    drafter(s)
  fire(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):     firefighter(s)
  fisher(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   fisher(s)
  fresh(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):    first-year student(s)
  garbage(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):  waste collector(s)
  lady lawyer:                 lawyer
  ladylike:                    courteous
  landlord:                    building manager
  mail(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):     mail carriers
  man and wife:                husband and wife
  man enough:                  strong enough
  mankind:                     human kind
  manmade:                     manufactured
  men and girls:               men and women
  middle(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   intermediary
  news(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):     journalist(s)
  ombuds(?:man|woman):         ombuds
  oneupmanship:                upstaging
  poetess:                     poet
  police(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   police officer(s)
  repair(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   technician(s)
  sales(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):    salesperson or sales people
  service(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):  soldier(s)
  steward(?:ess)?:             flight attendant
  tribes(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   tribe member(s)
  waitress:                    waiter
  woman doctor:                doctor
  woman scientist[s]?:         scientist(s)
  work(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):     worker(s)