International Women's Day - Should the term "chairman" be replaced?

Today is International Women’s Day (March 8), which is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

Recently a number of business groups including the CBI and the Institute of Directors, called on the UK Government to stop using the word “chairman” as part of the ongoing quest for true equality. 

They wrote an open letter to Government stating that the word “chairman” is “outdated” which gives men an elevated status that can translate into greater opportunities and salaries. These groups call for the word to be changed to the neutral term “chair” and the changes should be incorporated as part of upcoming legislation.

The use of gender neutral language whilst only a minor tweak could yield significant positive results. Whilst it is not a silver bullet, it isn’t a trivial change and the importance of language should not be underestimated. The use of “chairman” perhaps feeds into unconscious bias that men are better suited to leadership roles when employers and businesses should be focussing on the best candidates irrespective of gender.  

Employers are well aware of the value of having a workplace which encourages equality, diversity and inclusion. This can help to keep employees happy and motivated, and can help to attract and retain the best talent which is of high importance in the current landscape.