Thesis Title:
Default masculine grammatical gender and gender inclusive alternatives in Arabic: effects on occupational expectations, employability, and attitudes
Abstract:
The use of masculine grammatical forms as a “generic” or default for all genders is common in many languages, but it can shape perceptions and expectations in ways that disadvantage women. While studies in Western languages like French and German have shown how masculine grammatical gender reinforces gender stereotypes, little is known about its effects in Arabic. My research addresses this gap by investigating how Arabic, a language with extensive gender marking, influences perceptions of women’s employability in recruitment.
This study focuses on four key questions: What kind of language is used in Egyptian job advertisements? Does gendered language influence occupational expectations? How does masculine language affect women’s chances in hiring? Finally, are there effective inclusive language strategies in Arabic?
To answer these, I combined computational methods, experimental designs, and surveys with Egyptian recruiters and job seekers. The findings revealed that: 1) most Egyptian job ads are written in the masculine, especially for senior roles. 2) Masculine language reinforces male-centric expectations, while inclusive forms encourage more mixed-gender interpretations. 3) Women applying for jobs described in masculine terms were rated lower, offered lower salaries, and were less likely to be hired than men. 4) Egyptians hold mixed views on inclusive language, with many still believing that masculine forms can be used generically. These results highlight the urgent need for culturally sensitive strategies to promote inclusive language in recruitment, addressing both the biases embedded in language and societal attitudes that resist change.
Social Media:
Twitter: @fasolyaman
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3905-4244
First Supervisor:
Devyani Sharma
Pathway:
Pathway 7: Linguistics, Media & Culture
Cohort:
2022-23
Publications:
Brown, E., Stillman, S., Soliman, F., Romao, D., & Katairo, T. (2024). Improving livelihoods outcomes for forcibly displaced populations: a Rapid Review. Journal of Development Effectiveness. Preprint available in CEGA Working Paper Series No. WPS-239. Center for Effective Global Action. University of California, Berkeley. https://doi.org/10.26085/C3GC72
Bangpan, M., Felix, L., Soliman, F., D’Souza, P., Jieman, A.-T., & Dickson, K. (2024). The impact of mental health and psychosocial support programmes on children and young people’s mental health in the context of humanitarian emergencies in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 11, e21. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2024.17
Soliman, F., Stockall, L., & Sharma, D. (2023). Registered report protocol: Perceptual effects of Arabic grammatical gender on occupational expectations in a gamified speech production task. PLOS ONE, 18(10), e0292936. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292936
Jieman, A.T., Soliman, F., Bhui, K., Onwumere, J., Jones, J. (2024). Black women’s lived experiences of depression and related help-seeking behaviours: a qualitative evidence synthesis. Submitted to the Lancet Psychiatry. Pre-print available here: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.02.24311928
Soliman, F., Sczesny, S. (2024). The effects of Arabic gendered language on applicants’ employability as evaluated by recruiters in a hiring-simulation experiment. Submitted to the Journal of Applied Social Psychology.