Fighting Gender Stereotypes: What Indian Judges Can & Cannot Say

The Supreme Court has released a handbook featuring a glossary of gender-biased terms and their alternative, more equitable replacements. It aims to assist the legal community in combating stereotypes about women. Here are some of the stereotypical words and their alternatives suggested by the SC.

BIOLOGICAL SEX/BIOLOGICAL MALE/BIOLOGICAL FEMALE

'Sex assigned at birth'

DUTIFUL WIFE/FAITHFUL WIFE/GOOD WIFE/OBEDIENT WIFE

'Wife'

HOUSEWIFE

'Homemaker'

FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS

'Menstrual products'

UNWED MOTHER

'Mother'

PROVIDER/ BREADWINNER

'Employed or Earning'

PROVOCATIVE CLOTHING/ DRESS

'Clothing/dress'

SPINSTER

'Unmarried woman'