Signaling inclusion, shaping gender equality
Effects of the point médian in French job advertisements
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24231656 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jana Rameh (0009-0000-2898-6682, Laboratoire de Linguistique Formelle, Universite Paris Cité), Raphaël Haddad (Centre d'étude des discours, images, textes, écrits, communication (Céditec), Université Paris-Est Créteil), Heather Burnett (0000-0002-7389-0679, Laboratoire de Linguistique Formelle, Universite Paris Cité) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-17 |
| Publication date | 2026-08-18 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Equal Opportunities International (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1758-7093 • E-ISSN: 2040-7149 |
| Publisher | Emerald (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1108/edi-02-2026-0098 |
| OpenAlex | W7203612714 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 48 |
Purpose This study investigates how inclusive writing in French job advertisements, specifically point médian and coordinations, affects key recruitment-related perceptions. It examines how these linguistic forms shape perceived gender representation in the company and the advertised role, and whether they influence job attractiveness, perceived personal skills and anticipated belongingness. Design/methodology/approach We conducted an online mixed-method experimental study testing wording (generic masculine vs inclusive writing) within-participants, and inclusive writing form (point médian vs coordinations) between-participants. One hundred and eighty-four native French speakers evaluated 12 job advertisements (6 generic masculine and 6 inclusive writing) and gave 5 measures: perceived percentage of women in the company and in the job, job attractiveness, perceived personal skills and anticipated belongingness. Findings Inclusive forms increased estimates of women's representation in the company and in the job compared to the generic masculine. However, only the point médian significantly enhanced perceived personal skills, job attractiveness and anticipated belongingness, whereas coordinations influenced only anticipated belongingness. No systematic gender differences emerged. Originality/value Drawing on signaling theory and the instrumental-symbolic framework for recruitment, this study contributes to research on employer branding and inclusive language by demonstrating the symbolic signaling role of the point médian in French job advertisements, as a socially salient and politically charged typographic form that enhances organizational attractiveness.
coordination · Employer Branding · French language · Gender equality · gender representation · inclusive language · job advertisements · job attractiveness · recruitment · signaling theory · Employer Branding and e-HRM · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Studies in Language
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| Highly cited | No |
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