The UK government has urged employers to remove “stereotypically masculine” language from job advertisements in a bid to encourage more women to apply for roles, particularly at senior levels.
The guidance has triggered a political row, with critics branding the recommendations “patronising” and unnecessary.
The new advice was issued by the Office for Equality and Opportunity as part of a wider initiative aimed at reducing barriers to women entering and progressing in the workplace. Ministers say the move is intended to address subtle biases in recruitment practices that may discourage female candidates from applying for jobs.
Under the guidelines, employers are encouraged to review the language used in recruitment adverts and remove terms that researchers believe may carry gendered connotations. Words such as “competitive”, “dominant”, “independent”, “strong” and even “ambitious” are cited as examples of phrases that may unintentionally reinforce male stereotypes in hiring processes.
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy unveiled by Bridget Phillipson ahead of International Women’s Day. The government says the guidance is designed to help employers attract a broader pool of candidates and ensure women have equal opportunities to progress in their careers.
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
