Most job titles are not gender-specific. For example, architect, barista, doctor, electrician, engineer, lecturer, plumber or teacher can be used to refer to anybody. Replace those terms that do specify gender with a gender-neutral term.
When referring to a particular person, then, try to avoid binary options if there is no need to be gender-specific. Therefore, not
but
When referring to the position rather than the person occupying it, always use the gender-neutral version(s).
Gender-specific term | Gender-neutral term |
barman, barmaid | bartender |
businessman, businesswoman | business executive |
cameraman | camera operator |
chairman, chairwoman | chair |
congressman | congressional representative |
delivery man | courier, messenger |
draftsman | drafter |
fireman | firefighter |
foreman | supervisor |
freshman | fresher, first-year student |
ombudsman | ombuds officer |
policeman, policewoman | police officer |
salesman, saleswoman | sales representative |
sportsman, sportswoman | athlete |
steward, stewardess | flight attendant |
weatherman | weather forecaster |
workman | worker |
When referring to a particular person, then, try to avoid binary options if there is no need to be gender-specific. Therefore, not
 | Chairwoman Vázquez apologized for her absence. |
but
 | Chair Vázquez apologized for her absence. |
When referring to the position rather than the person occupying it, always use the gender-neutral version(s).
| A new chair must be elected before the Senate’s inaugural session. |
Recommended citation:
«Jobs and roles» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=2404> [consulta: 18 abril 2024].