A List of Common Offensive (Exclusionary) Words Used in Job Descriptions (2024)

• Author
• Recent Posts

Rob Kelly

Co-Founder and CEO at Ongig

I am a 3-time CEO, author and proud father of my preemie baby Maverick! We created Ongig to transform your job descriptions to boost quality candidates and diversity. Ongig supercharges your job pages through video, images, chat, social sharing, microsite creation and much more. Jobs can be more easily found through Artificial Intelligence-based job search and all pages are Mobile and SEO- optimized. Ongig also analyzes the text of your JDs and our pro copywriting team will rewrite your job descriptions. Early clients of Ongig include Salesforce, Yelp, GoDaddy, Verizon, Intel & Autodesk. Request a demo if you'd like to chat about partnering!

Latest posts by Rob Kelly (see all)

• Top 20+ Diversity Equity Inclusion Titles (with Descriptions) 2024 - October 18, 2024
• A List of Common Offensive (Exclusionary) Words Used in Job Descriptions (2024) - October 18, 2024
• Action Verbs for Job Descriptions: A Comprehensive List for 2024 - October 14, 2024

There are quite a few offensive exclusionary words and phrases that can crush your job descriptions.

Use just one of these phrases and you could lose 50%+ of your candidates. These words are considered “exclusionary” by some and just plain offensive words by others.

Exclusionary words in job descriptions are so rampant, that Ongig’s Text Analyzer now flags them for our clients (with recommendations for inclusive synonyms to replace them with and explains why they might be offensive to certain groups).

Below are a couple of examples of offensive exclusionary words we’ve found in job descriptions. I grayed out the names of the employers cuz we don’t like to throw co.s under the bus.

Problem

Check out the phrases highlighted above: There are 2 problems with this:

1. It assumes that veterans are only men
2. It ignores same-sex relationships that veterans might be in

Solution

They’d be better off writing something like:

“veterans and/or their spouses” or “veterans and their partners”.

Let’s look at another example of a job description with language offensive to some.

One topic to beware of is racially insensitive words and phrases.

Check out the below job description’s use of the phrase “master / slave”. “Master/Slave” is a term used in technology to describe the control of one device over another.

Problem

Many will consider “master/slave” racially insensitive because it evokes the practice of slavery.  In 2004, the phrase “master/slave” was named the most politically incorrect term by Global Language Monitor. Yet, master/slave continues to be used in many database-related job descriptions

Solution

Consider different language, for instance, tech leaders such as IBM, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and others have replaced the use of “master/slave” with “primary/replica”

There are entire movements going on to rid the world of words that many find offensive.  R-word.org, for example, is a community built to end the use of the word “retard” and its variants. It has 775,533 pledges at last count.

A synonym for retarded, for example, is “a person with a developmental disability”.

Good Resources for Lists of Exclusionary and Offensive Words

Here are a couple of good lists of potentially offensive exclusionary words:

• “An Incomplete Guide to Inclusive Language for Startups and Tech” (Buffer’s Courtney Seiter lists negative terms and affirmative alternatives as well as a list of 18 offensive phrases to avoid). This article is the most valuable one I’ve seen on the topic. I even found a few new ones that I didn’t already have for my table below! Thanks, Courtney!
• Global Language Monitor’s Top Politically (in)Correct Words and Phrases
• 25 job titles that still use the word “man”

Here’s a list of potentially offensive/exclusionary words with a more inclusive synonym:

Another list of offensive words [2024 Update]

Language is always evolving, but so are some of the most offensive exclusionary words are still being used in job descriptions. We searched job postings on Linkedin, Indeed, and career pages to find this updated list of offensive words, with inclusive synonyms:

Offensive Exclusionary Words List for Race

Systemic racism still affects diverse groups of people. And racial bias in job descriptions is still high. For instance, candidates with black-sounding names receive fewer callbacks after job applications. 

We should not forget that the black color is associated with negative stereotypes such as evil. While white is used to represent purity.

So here are racially biased words to remove from your job descriptions. And inclusive replacements for them:

Offensive Exclusionary Words List for Gender

Even in the modern world, job descriptions still aren’t gender inclusive. For instance, job titles use the term “man” (Fireman, Doorman, Congressman, Chairman,), etc. And yet there are many gender-neutral titles to use.

Here are examples of biased gender words to avoid and the replacements:

Offensive Exclusionary Words List for Disability

Unemployment rates were higher for persons with a disability than for those with no disability according to 2023 statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States. Therefore, using non-ableist language throughout your job description creates an inclusive environment where any individual with a disability is welcome.

Image Source: Waldemar on Unsplash

So here are examples of disability-exclusionary phrases to avoid and person-first language replacements:

Offensive Exclusionary Words List for LGBTQIA

Job applicants from the LGBTG+ community get left out of the work environment based on their gender identity, sex change, personal pronouns they use, the individuals they choose to love, and the way they describe their families. 

Here are examples of LGBTQ exclusionary phrases to avoid and inclusive terms to boost your JD word choice:

Offensive Exclusionary Words List for Age

The labor market currently has different types of generations, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z, and more. Because of this, your job descriptions should include age-inclusive language that applies to all ages, from older adults to younger people.

Image Source:  Jason Goodman on Unsplash

Here are non-inclusive age-biased words to avoid and replacements to use:

Offensive Exclusionary Words List for Neurodiversity and Mental Health

The non-inclusive language for mental health in job descriptions sometimes goes unnoticed because we use those phrases in our everyday talk. 

For instance, you might have come across job descriptions with the phrase, “This open position might require you to work “crazy hours”.

The term “crazy hours” is a derogatory term discriminative to people who have a mental condition. So here are mental health biased problematic terms to avoid and the replacements:

More Tips for Creating Inclusive Job Descriptions

Eliminating exclusionary language isn’t the only step in ensuring you write inclusive job descriptions. 

Image Source: Christin Hume on Unsplash

Here are more tips for creating inclusive job descriptions:

• State your Inclusive Benefits

There are minority groups of employees who are still discriminated against in the employment world. Employees such as people living with disabilities, and working parents. So try and include benefits such as paid parental leave for new parents and caregivers. And including flexible working environments for new parents and people living with disabilities. Plus also check that all the employees earn a fair wage regardless of gender, race, and age.

• Reduce Must-Have Requirements

The must-have job requirements in job descriptions prevent various groups of candidates from applying. 

For instance, men and women apply for open positions differently. From research, women don’t apply to job openings that they aren’t 100% qualified. On the other hand, men apply even without all the qualifications.

• Focus on Responsibilities and Skills

Results-based job JDs boost your inclusive recruitment efforts. So instead of insisting on a specific educational background that may limit the chances of some groups of candidates, emphasize the qualifications and skills needed for the job opening. This strategy allows group of people from various backgrounds to show their capabilities, regardless of their area of study.

• Clarify your Commitment to DEI

Applicants love seeing a diversity and inclusion statement when they’re applying for jobs. For instance, according to a study from Linkedin, people from BIPOC communities would still love to see a generic diversity statement. According to them, it’s a good sign to have a generic inclusion statement than not have any at all.

For more tips and ideas on creating job descriptions, check out How to Write a Job Description — Best Practices & Examples.

Use Job Description Management Tool To Analyze Your Job Description Language

We know how hard it is to analyze all the offensive exclusionary words in your job descriptions. It’s also harder if you’re creating job descriptions at scale. 

Now this is where the job description management tool comes in. You need software that can help you flag any offensive terms and words based on gender, race, former felons, LGBTQ, and more. And give you alternative preferred terms.

So this is where software like Ongig’s Text Analyzer comes in. Ongig carefully reviews your job description’s offensive exclusionary words based on:

• Gender
• Race
• Disability
• LGBTQ (sexual preference)
• Ethnicity
• Immigration status
• Neurodiversity
• Age

And more. 

For instance, our software flags 10,000+ exclusionary words automatically. In the below screenshot, Ongig automatically points out the exclusionary term related to ethnic diversity “native English speaker”.

After all, you aim to recruit an applicant who speaks English well and not an individual born in a native English-speaking country.

Impact of Exclusionary Language on Diverse Talent Pools

When writing job descriptions, the words we choose can have a big impact on who feels welcome to apply. So, the use of these terms can either include or exclude certain groups. It’s also important to think about the impact of mental health language, gender expression, and words related to racial group identities to create an inclusive and welcoming environment.

Why Language Matters

Language matters because it shapes how people see themselves and others. For example, using terms with negative connotations, like “man hours” instead of person hours, can make women of color or transgender people feel like the job isn’t meant for them. However, the flip side is that when we choose inclusive alternatives, we show that everyone is welcome, regardless of gender, race, or other parts of a person’s identity.

Harmful Stereotypes in Common Words

Words carry history, and sometimes they bring harmful stereotypes with them. So, a phrase like “black hat,” which originated in the late 19th century, can be linked to a negative association with skin color, specifically targeting black people. The use of the words “black” or “white” in certain contexts can create unintended messages, especially for black americans and white people. Therefore, using general terms without considering historical context might unintentionally reinforce racial slurs or biased thinking.

Specific Ways Words Exclude

Terms like “master list” or “black hat” can subtly reinforce ideas tied to white supremacists or biased beliefs from the past. Similarly, outdated language like “Chinese pidgin English” has been used as a racial slur against Asian American communities. So, if job ads don’t reflect inclusive words, minority groups may feel like the company doesn’t respect their cultural significance or experience. Instead, opting for inclusive job ads with plain, neutral language is always a good idea.

Impact on Candidates with Disabilities

In addition, when it comes to the deaf community, the use of terms like “hearing impaired” is often seen as offensive. The preferred term for many deaf people is simply “Deaf,” which puts their person’s identity front and center. The same also goes for individuals with visual impairments or a mental disability; using identity-first language acknowledges the person before the medical condition. So, next time you write a job ad, think about how inclusive alternatives can make a difference for applicants.

Moving Forward

Companies need to recognize the importance of inclusive language and how it affects campus members or potential employees. Some industries, like the tech industry, have made strides, but there’s still work to do. Therefore, spending time understanding the primary issue with exclusionary language shows mutual respect for every candidate, including black americans, brown people, and others from underrepresented backgrounds. So, by embracing inclusive words and making thoughtful changes, like using person hours instead of “man hours,” businesses can build a more welcoming workplace for everyone.

For more tips on writing job descriptions, check out How to Write a Job Description — Best Practices & Examples.

Why I wrote this?

My team and I at Ongig focus on creating the world’s best-looking and most effective job descriptions. One feature of our Text Analyzer software is that it identifies offensive/exclusionary words in your job descriptions, fixes them…and explains why they might be offensive to certain groups.

[starbox]

October 18, 2024 by Rob Kelly in Writing Job Descriptions