Here's a question you might not have thought about: does the way we describe a job in language actually change how appealing it seems to your teenager?
Researchers in France recently tested this idea by looking at how adolescents react when job titles are presented in different grammatical forms. In languages like French (and many others), words have grammatical gender—masculine or feminine forms. Traditionally, when describing jobs in a mixed or unknown group, the masculine form is used. But some people argue that using 'pair forms' (listing both masculine and feminine versions) is fairer and more inclusive.
The researchers wanted to know: does this actually work with teenagers? Would hearing a job described in a gender-inclusive way make young people feel more like they 'belong' in that career, especially if it's traditionally associated with the opposite gender?
What the Research Found
The answer was surprising—and different from what works with adults. When researchers asked French-speaking teenagers to rate various jobs, the grammatical form used (masculine-only versus pair forms) made almost no difference. Whether a nurse or engineer was described in masculine, feminine, or both forms, teenagers' opinions remained largely unchanged.
What did matter? The stereotypes already baked into those occupations. Girls considering male-dominated fields like engineering still felt they didn't belong there—regardless of how inclusively the job was described. Boys considering traditionally female careers like nursing showed similar patterns.
Age and gender both played a role too. The effects varied between younger and older teens, and girls tended to be more influenced by occupational stereotypes than boys were.
What This Means for Singapore and Asian Families
This research matters in Singapore and across Asia because career counselling, school materials, and parent conversations about future paths are major shapers of adolescent ambitions.
Many Singapore schools and parents are increasingly conscious about encouraging girls into STEM and boys into care-oriented or creative fields. This study suggests that simply using gender-inclusive language—while worthwhile—isn't enough on its own.
The real barrier isn't the words we use; it's the beliefs teenagers absorb about who 'fits' in certain roles. These beliefs come from what they see in media, their families, their schools, and wider society. If your daughter rarely sees female engineers celebrated in her school or community, calling the job 'engineer/engineress' won't make her feel she belongs there.
This is particularly relevant in Singapore, where strong cultural narratives exist around 'suitable' careers for boys and girls. The research suggests that tackling these deeper stereotypes is where real change happens.
Three Practical Steps for Parents
- Go beyond language—reshape the narrative. Don't just use gender-inclusive job titles; actively introduce your teen to real people in non-stereotypical roles. If your daughter is interested in tech, arrange a conversation with a female engineer. If your son loves caregiving, connect him with male nurses or teachers. Seeing role models who break stereotypes is far more powerful than grammatical changes.
- Examine your own assumptions about careers. Teenagers pick up on subtle cues about which jobs parents consider 'right' for their gender. Notice when you praise ambition differently based on gender, or when you seem more excited about certain career paths. A genuine shift in your own beliefs will come through in your conversations far more than any deliberate language choice.
- Normalize exploration across all fields early. Rather than waiting until secondary school career decisions loom, expose your younger teen to diverse roles and skills now. Encourage cooking (chemistry and creativity), building projects (engineering), caregiving responsibilities (emotional intelligence), and leadership in all forms. When your teen sees themselves as capable across many domains before stereotypes fully crystallize, they're more likely to consider non-traditional paths later.