Why Nuance Matters: Gender-Inclusive Language in the CAF

The Canadian Armed Forces relies on clear, precise communication to function effectively. From orders and policies to routine emails and posters, language shapes how information is understood and how people experience their workplace. As our institution continues to reflect the diversity of Canadian society, being mindful of the nuances in our language, particularly around gender, is an increasingly important part of professionalism.

In everyday use, terms such as women, men, female, and male are often treated as interchangeable. In some contexts, that may seem reasonable; however, these words do not always carry the same meaning, and how they are used can affect how messages are received by different members of our community, including those within the CAF’s 2SLGBTQIA+ population.

Broadly speaking, women and men refer to gender as a social identity—how people understand themselves and live in the world. Female and male, on the other hand, are biological descriptors. They are appropriately used in medical, scientific, or administrative contexts where biological classification is required. Outside of those contexts, however, their use can feel impersonal, reductive, or discriminatory when referring to people, particularly when used as nouns rather than adjectives.

This distinction may feel subtle, especially to those encountering it for the first time. After all, many of us were taught these terms long before conversations about gender diversity became more visible in Canadian society. Yet for some members, especially transgender and gender-diverse personnel, these nuances carry real weight. Being described primarily through biological language can feel like an erasure or denial of identity, even when no harm is intended.

This is where the difference between intent and impact becomes important. A choice of words may be neutral from the writer’s perspective but still land differently with the reader. In the CAF, this is not a new principle; whether we are leading troops, mentoring subordinates, or representing the institution externally, we are expected to consider how others may perceive our actions, not just what we meant to do. Communication is no exception.

Mindful, inclusive language is not about assigning blame or policing every word. It is about aligning our communication with our values: dignity, respect, and professionalism. Just as we tailor our language to our audience, rank structure, or operational environment, we can also take care to use terminology that reflects and respects the people we serve alongside.

There is also a practical benefit: inclusive language supports trust and cohesion within teams. When members see themselves accurately and respectfully represented in communications, it reinforces a sense of belonging and psychological safety. These factors directly affect morale, retention, and performance - especially in high-stress environments where mutual trust is essential.

For those still learning about gender diversity, it may help to focus on a few simple principles: use people-centred terms, such as women, men, or, ideally, inclusive alternatives like members or personnel, unless there is a clear reason to reference biology; when biological terms like female or male are required, consider whether they are being used as descriptors rather than stand-ins for identity; when unsure, clarity and simplicity are usually the safest approach.

Importantly, learning inclusive language is not about achieving perfection. Everyone will make mistakes, especially as language evolves. What matters is a willingness to listen, reflect, and adjust when new understanding is gained. That willingness is a strength in any professional environment, and particularly in one that values adaptability as highly as the CAF does.

As the institution continues to modernize, our language will evolve alongside our people. Paying attention to nuance is a practical way to ensure our words support, rather than undermine, the inclusive culture we are working to build. In doing so, we strengthen not only our communications, but our teams and our operational effectiveness as a whole!