
Contents
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1. Introduction 1. Introduction
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2. Context 2. Context
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3. The Case against Gender-Specific Language in the Context of Family Leave 3. The Case against Gender-Specific Language in the Context of Family Leave
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3.1. Entrenchment of Binary Gender and Exclusion of Non-Binary Identities 3.1. Entrenchment of Binary Gender and Exclusion of Non-Binary Identities
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3.2. Privacy 3.2. Privacy
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3.3. Anti-essentialism 3.3. Anti-essentialism
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3.4. State (or Institution) Gender Marking 3.4. State (or Institution) Gender Marking
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3.5. Gender Neutrality as the Best Option 3.5. Gender Neutrality as the Best Option
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4. A Proposal for Gender-Neutral Leave Schemes 4. A Proposal for Gender-Neutral Leave Schemes
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5. Defending the Proposed Policy 5. Defending the Proposed Policy
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5.1. Tracking Gender and Other Equity-Related Outcomes 5.1. Tracking Gender and Other Equity-Related Outcomes
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5.2. Further Objections to Gender-Neutral Leave Policies 5.2. Further Objections to Gender-Neutral Leave Policies
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5.2.1. Anti-Feminist? 5.2.1. Anti-Feminist?
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5.2.2. Devaluing Motherhood? 5.2.2. Devaluing Motherhood?
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5.2.3. Pregnant People? 5.2.3. Pregnant People?
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5.2.4. Care Networks 5.2.4. Care Networks
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5.2.5. Feasibility 5.2.5. Feasibility
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6. Conclusion 6. Conclusion
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Acknowledgements Acknowledgements
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Notes Notes
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References References
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16 Gender-Neutrality and Family Leave Policies
Get accessJules Holroyd, Senior lecturer, Department of Philosophy, University of Sheffield
Matthew J. Cull, Interdisciplinary Research Fellow, Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society, University of Edinburgh
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Published:22 May 2024
Cite
Abstract
Robin Dembroff and Daniel Wodak (2018, 2021) argue that we have a duty to use gender-neutral pronouns, but they do not extend this argument to all other aspects of our language. This chapter evaluates the extent to which gender-neutral language is desirable in the context of parental leave schemes, taking as a case study the parental leave schemes found at a higher education institution in the United Kingdom. It argues that the considerations Dembroff and Wodak take as speaking against gender-specific pronouns and other gender-specific aspects of language also strongly speak against gender-specific language in the context of parental leave policies. As a project in non-ideal theory, the chapter argues against the framing of existing policies which refer to ‘maternity’ and ‘paternity’ leave and for moving to the language of ‘parental’ or ‘family’ leave. The fact that the majority of those giving birth are women does not provide decisive reasons for framing policies in gender-specific terms. Moreover, given the welcome move to facilitate shared parental leave, any concerns for gender equity, and equity for carers, are better served by requesting demographic information for monitoring purposes rather than by policies that refer to gender-specific parenting roles.
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