women, not female - on inclusion in language

The theme for the upcoming International Women’s Day is Inspire Inclusion.

So, let’s get right into it and inspire inclusion on the basic level: our language.

I still notice communication aimed at women or about women that uses “female” and “women” interchangeably and that is not entirely inclusive.

Not all women are female.

Not everyone who was born female is a woman, and not every woman was born female.

The term "female" usually describes biological characteristics and reproductive abilities, typically referring to sex assigned at birth based on anatomy.

“Woman” refers to gender - to how someone identifies, how they understand their identity and how it fits into social roles.

The term “women” includes transgender women and any person who holds that particular gender identity. It acknowledges that being a woman is about one's gender identity, regardless of their assigned sex at birth.

What are your thoughts? Is your organisation conscious in their communication and uses inclusive language, also around International Women’s Day?

#inspireinclusion #iwc2024