Words Matter: Supporting Gender Equality Through Language and Communication

Written publications cover anything from reports to fact sheets, policy briefs and news articles. To strive for a gender-inclusive approach, we recommend that authors with a wide variety of backgrounds contribute to the publication to ensure that perspectives are balanced and broad. Consider the following guiding questions when developing a written publication.

• Does the topic highlight a trend or issue in which gender inequalities are adequately addressed?
• If there are multiple authors, do they represent diverse backgrounds for broader perspectives?
• Does the language support gender equality and the visibility of women and men in all their diversity?
• Is the language free of gender bias and gender stereotypes?