ASSESSING STUDENTS’ WILLINGNESS TO ADOPT GENDER-INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE IN OWERRI INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The study investigated the willingness of Federal Polytechnic Nekede (FPNO) and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) students to utilize gender-inclusive language in discourse. A survey research design was adopted for the study. Four research questions were postulated based on the main objective of the study. The population consisted of one thousand seven hundred and fifty undergraduates from Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (Five hundred HND2 students of Vocational Studies of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, and one thousand, two hundred and fifty final year Engineering students of Federal University of Technology, Owerri). A Random sampling technique was used to select one hundred and seventy and two hundred respondents from FPNO and FUTO, respectively. The instrument used for the collection of data was a four-point Likert scale rating questionnaire alongside recorded conversations from the students. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (Mean, Standard Deviation, and Simple Percentages), represented in tables and graphs in the SPSS Package. Results showed lesser utilization of gender-inclusive language in conversation by the male-dominated Engineering students and more unwillingness to adopt inclusive language as compared to the female-dominated Vocational studies department. The study recommended a review of the curriculum to be more gender sensitive and concerted efforts at creating more awareness of gender inclusive language, especially in TVET institutions in Africa.