Gender and Sexuality

Gender vs. Sex

Do not use the terms “gender” and “sex” interchangeably. “Gender” refers to a person’s identity (e.g., man, woman, nonbinary person), whereas “sex” refers to biological characteristics (e.g., male, female, intersex). When writing, be sensitive to the fact that not everyone falls into a man/woman or male/female binary.

Gender-Neutral Language

Whenever possible, use gender-neutral language to avoid bias and remain inclusive. When referring to groups of people or professions, use gender-neutral terms. Below are some examples:

LGBTQ+ Communities

When discussing LGBTQ+ communities, be as specific as possible. If you must use an umbrella term, “LGBTQ+” is preferred.

While some members of LGBTQ+ communities have reclaimed “queer” as an identity and an umbrella term, others in these communities still view the word as a slur.⁴ It may not be appropriate to use in all cases, and you should use your best judgment with the preference of the specific person or group of people in mind.

Do not use “gay community” or “homosexual” as umbrella terms. When writing about a specific community, use a term preferred by the community.

• When discussing transgender communities and people, using the shorthand “trans” or “trans*” may be acceptable after the first full use of “transgender.”
• The terms “nonbinary” and “gender-nonconforming” should not be used interchangeably with “transgender,” as these terms have different meanings.
• “Nonbinary” and “gender-nonconforming” are not always interchangeable with each other, either. “Gender-nonconforming” is a broad adjective that describes people who do not fall within the gender binary and can generally be used as an umbrella term. When discussing individual people, however, try to be as specific as possible about their gender identities: “nonbinary,” “bigender,” “agender,” etc.

Noting Bias in Data

We know that data can contain bias.⁵ Some data sets more heavily weigh or represent certain people’s experiences than others’. Oftentimes, the perspectives of historically excluded groups, like women and LGBTQ+ communities, are minimized as a result. When citing research, note any potential bias whenever possible.

When citing research on LGBTQ+ communities, be mindful of which groups the research includes. Research may be limited to just “LGBT” communities or only lesbian and gay people.

Pronouns

Always ensure you’re using the correct pronouns (“he/him,” “she/her,” “they/them,” etc.) to refer to someone. Don’t assume which pronouns someone uses. If possible, ask. For example, if you’re hosting a study group, you might create an introduction activity in which participants all introduce themselves and share their pronouns.

Do not use the phrase “preferred pronouns,” as this implies a person’s pronouns are a preference, rather than a fact.⁶

If you are unsure of the gender of the person you’re discussing, use the pronoun “they” over the clunky and potentially inaccurate “he/she.”

In hypothetical situations, use singular “they.”