Abstract:
In many languages with grammatical gender, the use of masculine forms as a generic reference has been associated with a bias favoring masculine-specific representations. This article examines the efficiency of gender-fair forms, specifically gender-unmarked forms (neutralization strategy, e.g., \"l\'enfant\") and contracted double forms (re-feminization strategy, e.g., \"un·e enfant\"), in reducing gender biases in language. Extensive empirical research has shown that gender-fair forms have the potential to promote more gender-balanced representations. However, the relative efficiency of these strategies remains a subject of debate in the scientific literature. In order to explore these questions, two experiments were conducted in French. We analyzed the response times and percent correct scores using a sentence evaluation paradigm, where the participants had to decide whether a second sentence starting with a gendered personal pronoun (\"il\" or \"elle\") was a sensible continuation of the first sentence written in a gender-fair form. Experiment 1 confirmed that gender-unmarked forms are not fully effective in neutralizing the masculine bias. In Experiment 2, a comparison was made between gender-unmarked forms and contracted double forms, to assess their respective abilities to generate more balanced representations. The findings indicated that contracted double forms are more effective in promoting gender balance compared to gender-unmarked forms. This study contributes to the existing scientific literature by shedding light on the relative efficiency of neutralization and re-feminization strategies in reducing gender biases in language. These results have implications for informing efforts to promote more inclusive and unbiased language practices.
摘要:
在许多具有语法性别的语言中,使用男性形式作为通用参考与偏爱男性特定表示的偏见有关。本文研究了性别公平形式的效率,特别是无性别标记的形式(中和策略,例如,\“l\”enfant\”)和合同双重形式(重新女性化战略,例如,\“un·eenfant\”),减少语言中的性别偏见。广泛的实证研究表明,性别公平形式有可能促进更多性别均衡的陈述。然而,这些策略的相对效率仍然是科学文献中争论的话题。为了探究这些问题,用法语进行了两个实验。我们使用句子评估范式分析了响应时间和正确分数的百分比,参与者必须决定以性别代词(“il”或“elle”)开头的第二句是否是以性别公平形式写成的第一句的合理延续。实验1证实,无性别标记的形式在消除男性偏见方面并不完全有效。在实验2中,对无性别标记的表格和收缩的双重表格进行了比较,评估他们各自产生更平衡表示的能力。调查结果表明,与无性别标记的形式相比,签约双重形式在促进性别平衡方面更有效。这项研究通过阐明中和和再女性化策略在减少语言中的性别偏见方面的相对效率,为现有的科学文献做出了贡献。这些结果对促进更具包容性和不偏不倚的语言实践的努力具有启示意义。