To tackle the gender biases, Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy (LBSNAA) has introduced a new guide packed with a gender-neutral lexicon in the curriculum of trainee IAS officer.
Minister of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Ms Smriti Zubin Irani launched a ‘Guide on Gender-Inclusive Communication’ in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on November 28, 2023. The guide is prepared by the LBSNAA in collaboration with UN WOMEN and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In the handbook Gender Inclusive Communication words like businessman are replaced with a business person, an actor with a performer or artist, a postman with postal worker and common man with a common person. The guide covers the use of language in English, Hindi, and other Regional languages, based on the “Handbook on Combatting Gender Stereotypes” by Supreme Court of India and other national and global best practices customized to suit the requirements of the Indian citizens.
The guide also includes a checklist for gender-related revisions and key resources for further reference. The guide is intended to assist in gender-inclusive writing, review, and translation of documents and communications by government officials, civil servants, media professionals, educators, and other stakeholders.
It aims to heighten awareness, empower individuals to navigate daily communications with a commitment to gender neutrality and inclusivity, and fundamentally reshape the narrative towards a society where language becomes an agent for positive change.
By highlighting and acknowledging implicit biases present in everyday language, the guide can serve as a catalyst for change.
