This piece examines the growing number of attempts to make job postings gender neutral by replacing words like “man” with alternatives like “human” or “person”. The article argues that while this may seem like a positive change, the focus on language can distract from the core issue of unequal treatment and bias in the hiring process. The author presents evidence from psychological studies suggesting that changing language is ineffective in achieving real equality in the workplace, and in some cases could have unintended consequences. Rather than focusing on gender neutral language in job postings, the article argues that greater focus should instead be placed on creating policies that meaningfully reduce bias in the hiring process and promote an inclusive workplace.
