Efforts are under way to phase out words such as "male" and "female" in the science community because they support the idea that sex is binary. More inclusive terminology like "sperm-producing" and "egg-producing" should be encouraged instead, scientists have said.
An article by a group of like-minded researchers in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution discourages the use of some words and terms commonly used in scientific research which it argues are exclusionary and proposes alternatives. Terms like "invasive" or "non-native species" have "xenophobic, anti-immigrant and militaristic" connotations, the scientists argue, and suggest inclusive alternatives like “newly-arrived” or “nuisance species”.
The term "citizen science" could be considered "harmful to non-citizens" they say. The researchers advocate use of “participant science or community science” instead.
