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Administrative Circular NO. 82-2006, September 19, 2006

The document provides suggestions for using non-sexist language in official documents and communications to promote gender sensitivity. It encourages eliminating implicitly or explicitly discriminatory language against women or men. Specific suggestions include avoiding the generic use of masculine pronouns, finding gender-neutral alternatives for symbolic representations, and treating men and women in a parallel rather than stereotypical manner in roles and titles.

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341 views3 pages

Administrative Circular NO. 82-2006, September 19, 2006

The document provides suggestions for using non-sexist language in official documents and communications to promote gender sensitivity. It encourages eliminating implicitly or explicitly discriminatory language against women or men. Specific suggestions include avoiding the generic use of masculine pronouns, finding gender-neutral alternatives for symbolic representations, and treating men and women in a parallel rather than stereotypical manner in roles and titles.

Uploaded by

Jemaica
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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importance of transforming language from traditional

[ ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR usage to a more liberating one, that which is gender-


NO. 82-2006, September sensitive.

19, 2006 ] Since government employees and officials encounter


gender issues everyday, the use of non- sexist
language in preparing letters, memoranda, and other
issuances, will encourage them to make a conscious
ALL JUSTICE, JUDGES, AND EMPLOYEES OF THE effort to avoid implicit and explicit discriminatory
TO: language against women or men. This, in turn, will
JUDICIARY
help promote gender-sensitivity in the bureaucracy.
SUBJECT: CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
Attached are some suggestions on how to use non-
CIRCULAR NO. 12, s. 2005 (USE OF NON-SEXIST
sexist language.
LANGUAGE IN ALL OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS,
COMMUNICATIONS AND ISSUANCES)
Please be guided accordingly.

Quoted hereunder is Memorandum Circular No. 12, s. 2005


(Sgd)KATRINA
of the CSC.
CONSTANTINO-DAVID
"Pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 050433 dated March 30, Chairperson"
2005, government officials and employees are encouraged to
use non-sexist language in all official documents, 31 March 2005
communications, and issuances.
SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO USE NON-SEXIST
In line with the government's efforts to integrate LANGUAGE
women's concerns in its plans and programs through
the years, the Civil Service Commission continuously 1. Eliminate the generic use of he, his or him unless
undertakes gender mainstreaming activities, taking the antecedent is obviously male by:
extra efforts in promoting gender-sensitivity in the
bureaucracy. (GAD) perspectives have been integrated a. using plural nouns
in the conduct of civil service examinations partly
through the use of non-sexist language in the test TRADITIONAL: The lawyer uses his brief to guide him.
items. This has led to the Commission's active SUGGESTED: The lawyers use their brief to guide them.
campaign on the use of gender-fair language.
b. deleting he, his, and him altogether, rewording if
Language is a very essential tool in communication. It necessary
articulates consciousness, reflects culture, and affects
socialization. Hence, the need to recognize the TRADITIONAL: The architect uses his blueprint to guide him.
SUGGESTED: The architect uses a blueprint as a guide. TRADITIONAL: the founding fathers
SUGGESTED: the founders, the founding leaders
c. substituting articles (a, an, the) for his; using who
instead of he
TRADITIONAL: the Father of relativity theory
TRADITIONAL: The writer should know his readers well. the founder or relativity theory, the initiator of
SUGGESTED:
relativity theory
SUGGESTED: The writer should know the reader's well.
b. finding precise words to delineate the thing itself
d. using one, we, or you from supposedly sex-linked characteristics

TRADITIONAL: As one grows older, he becomes more reflective. Titanic was a great ship, but she now rests at the
SUGGESTED: As one grows older, one becomes more reflective. TRADITIONAL:
bottom of the sea.
Titanic was a great ship, but it now rests at the
e. using the passive voice SUGGESTED:
bottom of the sea.

TRADITIONAL: The manager must submit his proposal today. "Don't let Mother Nature rip you off! She's out to
The proposal must be submitted by the manager TRADITIONAL:
SUGGESTED: kill you car's new finish......Stop her...."
today.
"Don't let Nature rip you off"...It's out to kill your
SUGGESTED:
car's finish....Stop it...."
2. Eliminate the generic use of MAN. Instead, use
people, person(s), human(s), humanbeing(s),
4. Eliminate sexual stereotyping of roles by:
humankind, humanity, the human race.
a. using the same term for both genders when it
TRADITIONAL: ordinary man, mankind, the brotherhood of man comes to profession or employment
SUGGESTED: ordinary people, humanity, the human family.
TRADITIONAL: salesman, stewardess
3. Eliminate sexism in symbolic representations of SUGGESTED: sales agent, flight attendant
gender in words, sentences, and texts by:
b. using gender fair terms in lexical terms
a. taking the context of the world, analyzing its
meaning, and eliminating sexism in the concept TRADITIONAL: sportmanship
TRADITIONAL: feelings of brotherhood, feelings of fraternity. SUGGESTED: highest ideals of fair play
SUGGESTED: feelings of kinship, solidarity
c. treating men and women in a parallel manner
TRADITIONAL: I now pronounce you man and wife. SUGGESTED: Dr. Concepcion Reyes
SUGGESTED: I now pronounce you husband and wife.
d. using the title of the job or group in letters to
d. avoiding language that reinforces stereotyping unknown persons
images
TRADITIONAL: Dear Sir
TRADITIONAL: a man's job, the director's girl Friday SUGGESTED: Dear Editor, Dear Credit Manager, Dear Colleague"
SUGGESTED: a big job, the director's assistant
For the information and guidance of all concerned.
e. avoiding language that catches attention to the sex
role of men and women September 19, 2006

TRADITIONAL: working mothers, spinsters or old maids (Sgd)ARTEMIO


V.
SUGGESTED: wage-earning mothers, unmarried women
PANGANIBAN
Chief Justice
TRADITIONAL: busboys, chauvinist pigs
Copy furnished:
SUGGESTED: waiter's assistants, male chauvinists
Office of the Chief Justice
Offices of the Associate Justices
5. Eliminate sexism when addressing persons formally Office of the Court Administrator (OCA)
by: Office of the Clerk of Court
Offices of the Deputy Court Administrators
a. using Ms. Instead of Mrs. Offices of the Assistant Court Administrators
TRADITIONAL: Mrs. dela Cruz Philippine Judicial Academy
Judicial and Bar Council
SUGGESTED: Ms. Dela Cruz EDP, MISO
Legal Office, OCA
b. using a married woman's first name instead of her Court Management Office, OCA
husband's Office of Administrative Services, OCA
Financial Management Office, OCA
TRADITIONAL: Mrs. Juan dela Cruz Library Services
SUGGESTED: Ms. Maria Santos-dela Cruz Officer-in-Charge, Official Gazette, National Printing
Office, Quezon City
ALL CONCERNED
c. using the corresponding titles for females

TRADITIONAL: Dra. Concepcion Reyes

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