Gender-Coded Job Descriptions

A gender-coded job description uses words that people tend to link with men or with women. Words like 'competitive' or 'dominant' are often read as masculine. Words like 'support' or 'understand' are often read as feminine.

The wording can change who feels a job is meant for them. Employers rarely intend this, which is why it helps to check job descriptions the same way you check them for clarity and accuracy.

What Did the Research Find About Gendered Wording?

A widely cited 2011 study by Gaucher, Friesen, and Kay in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology looked at job advertisements. It found that ads for male-dominated fields used more masculine wording, such as leader, competitive, and dominant, as described in the published abstract.

Ads for female-dominated fields did not use more feminine wording than the male-dominated ones. The difference was in the masculine words. Feminine examples in the study included support, understand, and interpersonal.

In experiments, ads with more masculine than feminine wording made women find the jobs less appealing. The researchers linked this to a weaker sense of belonging, not to a belief that women lacked the skills.

Which Words Count as Gender-Coded?

The study used lists of masculine-themed and feminine-themed words. Masculine-coded examples include leader, competitive, and dominant. Feminine-coded examples include support, understand, and interpersonal.

Related words in the same spirit, such as 'aggressive' or 'fearless', often appear in job ads. Treat them as flags to review, not as proven categories, since meaning depends on context and on the role.

Do not memorize a master list. A better test is whether the ad sets a tone that favors one kind of person and whether the tone matches the actual job.

How Do You Check a Job Description for Gender-Coded Language?

• Read it aloud and note any phrase that sounds like a personality type instead of a task.
• Count masculine-themed and feminine-themed words and look for a heavy lean in either direction.
• Ask two or three colleagues from different backgrounds to read it cold.
• Compare it with the real job. If a phrase describes the culture more than the work, question it.

A software checker can speed this up, but it is only a prompt. Your own judgment about the role should make the final call.

Review the opening and closing lines first. They set the tone for the whole posting.

How Do You Rewrite a Gender-Coded Job Description?

Replace tone words with specific work. Instead of describing the kind of person you want, describe what the person will do and what success looks like. This is also good practice for any job description.

Keep the real requirements. If a job needs a license, night shifts, or lifting, say so plainly. Rewriting is about removing cues, not about lowering the bar.

Does Gender-Coded Language Mean You Should Ban Certain Words?

No. The study found an effect when job ads leaned heavily toward masculine wording, not that single words must be removed. A job that truly requires leadership can say so.

Aim for balance and accuracy. Mix task-based language with a welcoming tone, and avoid tone words that add nothing to the description.

Pair this with a wider review. Our entry on an AI bias audit covers checking hiring tools for bias.

How Does HR Cloud Fit Into Gender-Coded Job Descriptions?

HR Cloud's recruiting page says Recruit drafts a structured job description from the role requirements you enter, and the recruiter reviews it before publishing.

The page does not describe a check for gendered wording. Treat the draft as a starting point and run your own review of tone and word choice before the job goes live.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a gender-coded job description?

A: It is a job posting that uses words people tend to link with men or women, such as 'competitive' or 'supportive', which can affect who feels the job fits them.

Q: What are examples of masculine-coded words?

A: The 2011 Gaucher, Friesen, and Kay study used examples such as leader, competitive, and dominant.

Q: What are examples of feminine-coded words?

A: The same study used examples such as support, understand, and interpersonal.

Q: Does gendered wording change who applies?

A: In the study's experiments, more masculine wording made women find jobs less appealing, linked to a lower sense of belonging. Real application behavior can vary, so test your own results.

Q: Should I remove every gender-coded word?

A: No. Keep words that accurately describe the job and aim for balance. The goal is clear, specific language, not a banned list.

Q: How do I check my job descriptions?

A: Read them aloud, have a few colleagues review them, look for a heavy lean in tone, and replace personality phrases with concrete tasks.