Stereotyping Ourselves: Gendered Language Use in Management and Instruction Library Job Advertisements

Abstract

Are librarians perpetuating their own stereotypes? This study analyzed 460 job advertisements of instruction librarian and management positions in academic libraries for the use of gendered language. Most (88%) of the collected advertisements used more feminine-themed language in their position descriptions, meaning there are more feminine-themed words than masculine-themed or no masculine words at all. Within the instruction positions, 95% were feminine-themed while 13% of the management positions were masculine-themed. This study found the largest use of masculine-themed language appeared in management positions. Hiring organizations can work toward balanced gender representation in library leadership by identifying the current use of gendered language in their own job advertisements.