Gender-Sensitive Communication Course

Lesson 1 • Defining Gender and Communication

Clarifies distinctions among sex, gender identity, and expression as they relate to language. Establishes shared vocabulary for the entire course.

Lesson 2 • Core Concepts in Bias and Stereotyping

Introduces implicit bias, stereotype threat, and microaggressions as they appear in everyday communication. Links these concepts to measurable workplace outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Intersectionality and Communication

Explains how gender intersects with race, class, and other identities to shape communication experiences. Prepares learners to avoid single-axis thinking.

Lesson 1 • Spotting Bias in Written Documents

Applies bias-detection skills to job postings, policies, and reports. Connects document-level patterns to organisational culture signals.

Lesson 2 • Analysing Media and Marketing Language

Extends detection skills to advertising copy, social media, and news framing. Demonstrates how external media reinforces internal organisational bias.

Lesson 3 • Self-Assessment of Personal Language Habits

Guides learners through structured critical reflection on their own communication patterns. Establishes a personal baseline before correction techniques are taught.

Lesson 4 • Identifying Exclusionary Vocabulary

Examines word choices that marginalise or erase non-dominant gender identities. Builds a practical recognition skill before correction strategies are introduced.

Lesson 1 • Gender-Affirming Language Practices

Covers correct use of pronouns, honorifics, and names for transgender and non-binary individuals. Distinguishes affirmation from mere neutrality.

Lesson 2 • Rewriting Biased Text

Applies inclusive principles to revise real-world documents through guided practice. Reinforces rules through iterative editing exercises.

Lesson 3 • Inclusive Language in Verbal Communication

Translates written inclusive language rules into real-time spoken practice. Addresses the added challenge of spontaneous speech.

Lesson 4 • Style Guides and Organisational Standards

Introduces how to create, adopt, and enforce inclusive language style guides. Connects individual practice to systemic organisational change.

Lesson 1 • Remote and Hybrid Communication Equity

Extends gender-sensitive practices to digital and distributed work environments. Addresses unique equity challenges in virtual collaboration tools.

Lesson 2 • Giving and Receiving Inclusive Feedback

Identifies gendered patterns in performance feedback and teaches bias-free alternatives. Directly improves fairness in evaluation processes.

Lesson 3 • Navigating Conflict with Gender Awareness

Applies gender-sensitive frameworks to conflict resolution and difficult conversations. Prevents gendered escalation patterns from derailing resolution.

Lesson 4 • Mentoring and Sponsorship Communication

Addresses how gender affects mentoring relationships and advocacy language. Builds skills for equitable professional development conversations.

Lesson 1 • Editing and Quality Assurance Workflows

Establishes systematic review processes to catch gendered language before publication. Integrates inclusive language checks into existing editorial workflows.

Lesson 2 • Inclusive Job Postings and HR Documents

Applies research on gendered job-ad language to attract diverse candidate pools. Extends principles to onboarding, policy, and benefits documentation.

Lesson 3 • Public-Facing and Marketing Content

Adapts inclusive writing principles to external communications, websites, and campaigns. Balances brand voice with gender-sensitive standards.

Lesson 4 • Inclusive Email and Messaging

Covers salutations, closings, and body language choices in professional email and chat. Addresses the high-frequency, high-impact nature of digital written communication.

Lesson 1 • Q&A and Spontaneous Speech

Prepares learners to maintain inclusive language under the pressure of unscripted interaction. Addresses the gap between planned and spontaneous communication.

Lesson 2 • Storytelling with Gender Sensitivity

Teaches narrative techniques that avoid reinforcing gender stereotypes whilst maintaining engagement. Strengthens persuasive communication without bias.

Lesson 3 • Inclusive Language in Presentations

Applies gender-sensitive vocabulary and framing to slide content and spoken delivery. Ensures presentations model organisational inclusion values.

Lesson 1 • Bystander Intervention Techniques

Provides a toolkit of verbal strategies for interrupting gendered language in real time. Moves learners from awareness to active intervention.

Lesson 2 • Responding as a Target

Equips individuals who experience gendered language with assertive, professional response options. Balances self-advocacy with professional relationship preservation.

Lesson 3 • Advocating for Systemic Language Change

Develops skills for proposing and championing inclusive language policies at the organisational level. Connects individual advocacy to structural outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Self-Care and Resilience for Advocates

Addresses the emotional labour of sustained inclusion advocacy and provides coping strategies. Ensures long-term effectiveness by preventing burnout.

Lesson 1 • Measuring Progress and Reporting Impact

Establishes key performance indicators for gender-sensitive communication and tracks change over time. Connects measurement to leadership reporting and resource allocation.

Lesson 2 • Sustaining a Culture of Inclusive Communication

Identifies the cultural levers that maintain inclusive language norms beyond initial training. Focuses on leadership modelling, recognition, and continuous learning.

Lesson 3 • Conducting an Organisational Language Audit

Provides a structured methodology for assessing gender bias across all organisational communication channels. Produces a baseline for change planning.

Lesson 4 • Embedding Inclusion in Communication Policy

Translates inclusive language principles into enforceable organisational policies and standards. Addresses governance, accountability, and revision cycles.