India’s top court lists gender stereotypes to be avoided in documents

India’s Supreme Court released a glossary this week of “gender-unjust terms” it wants the legal community to avoid when preparing pleas, orders and judgments, and suggested some alternatives.
Among the changes recommended by the court’s “Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes” are use of the word “woman” to replace terms such as “career woman”, “fallen woman”, “harlot”, “seductress”, and “whore”.
Wednesday’s document aims to help judges and the legal community to identify, understand and combat stereotypes about women, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who led the effort, wrote in a foreword that thanked several individuals.
“Relying on predetermined stereotypes in judicial decision-making contravenes the duty of judges to decide each case on its merits, independently and impartially,” he added.
The handbook advises use of phrases such as “street sexual harassment” instead of “eve-teasing”, a term that is prevalent in India, despite having fallen out of use elsewhere.
It suggests “mother” to replace “unwed mother”, and “sexually harassed, assaulted or raped” instead of “violated”.
Use of terms such as “survivor” and “victim” are both applicable to describe those affected by sexual violence, it added, unless the individual concerned expresses a preference, which should then be respected.