Using Gendered vs Inclusive Language in Social Media

Inclusivity audit for the heart-centered and socially responsible small business owner

🚩 “Did HE finally propose?”
🚩 “Brides, it’s time to start planning your wedding!”
🚩 “Future Mrs + Mr reach out to us!”

Gendered social posts are OUT - especially in the wedding industry. They’ve been out 🥴

Since Christmas Day, New Years Eve and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’ve seen all sorts of variations of this verbiage on fellow wedding vendors social media. It’s outdated, and unwelcoming.

“Language isn’t just talk. The ways people use language can reveal and enforce harmful stereotypes. Language can also be used to challenge prevailing norms and conventions. By using genderinclusive language, we not only signal that we value equity—we can also help speak it into being, advancing social progress for people of all genders.”

— from "WHAT IS GENDER-INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? MAY 29, 2020" by Christine Mallinson and J. Inscoe, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Your small business is, without a doubt, missing out on clients who aren’t feeling seen / supported / validated / included by you. It may not feel like you’re intentionally setting out to do that, but the fact of the matter is, your words are LOUD.

If you’d like to make easy, inclusive changes to your business, make 2022 the year. It genuinely will not disrupt your way of doing things. Commit to it. Be about it. Do better.

Inclusion reigns supreme ✨

Here are some changes you can make TODAY:

• Add your personal pronouns to your social channels

• Ask for their preferred name and pronouns on your inquiry forms, and use them

• Avoid generalizing / assuming the identities of your clientele ie. Brides, Girls, Ladies

““Inclusive language acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities,””

— "Guideline for Inclusive Language" from the Linguistic Society of America

Resource Links

1. WHAT IS GENDER-INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? MAY 29, 2020 By: Christine Mallinson and J. Inscoe, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

2. MyPronouns.Org

3. “Guideline for Inclusive Language“ from Linguistic Society of America