UK companies urge government to remove gendered term ‘chairman’ from laws
A group of UK companies has called on the government to remove the gendered term ‘chairman’ from laws and regulations, arguing that it is outdated and exclusionary.
The group, which includes major firms such as Aviva, Diageo, and Virgin Money, has written to the government asking for the term to be replaced with gender-neutral alternatives such as ‘chair’ or ‘chairperson’.
The move comes amid growing awareness of gender inequality in the workplace, and follows similar calls from other organisations to remove gendered language from job titles and descriptions.
The group argues that the use of the term ‘chairman’ reinforces the idea that leadership roles are primarily for men, and that it can discourage women from pursuing such positions.
They also point out that the term is increasingly seen as outdated and out of step with modern attitudes towards gender and diversity.
In their letter to the government, the companies state: “We believe that the use of gendered language in laws and regulations is not only outdated, but also sends a message that leadership roles are primarily for men. This can discourage women from pursuing such roles, and reinforces gender stereotypes that have no place in modern society.â€
The companies also argue that the use of gender-neutral language can help to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and can make it easier for people of all genders to feel valued and respected.
The move has been welcomed by campaigners for gender equality, who argue that the use of gendered language can have a significant impact on people’s perceptions of gender roles and expectations.
However, some critics have argued that the move is unnecessary, and that the term ‘chairman’ is already widely understood to be a gender-neutral term that can refer to people of any gender.
Despite this, the companies involved in the campaign are determined to push for change, and are calling on the government to take action to remove gendered language from laws and regulations.
As the campaign continues to gather momentum, it seems likely that we will see more and more companies and organisations calling for the removal of gendered language from the workplace, and for greater equality and diversity in all areas of society.
