Policy 20

Guidelines for Gender Parity in University Texts

Approved Senate 90-91.30

GUIDELINES FOR GENDER PARITY IN UNIVERSITY TEXTS

PREAMBLE

Mindful of the importance of reflecting social change and of having University publications of a high linguistic quality, the University of Ottawa strives to produce texts which, while clear and well-written, avoid sexual stereotypes and the systematic use of the masculine gender to refer to both sexes.

Consequently, the University has adopted the following principles:

PRINCIPLES

  1. The masculine gender should be avoided when referring to both men and women.
  2. Gender-neutral sentence structures should be used whenever possible when referring to both men and women.

  3. Titles should be feminized or neutralized whenever possible.

    Published May 6, 1991

    (Office of the Vice-President, Governance)