Implementing inclusive language in an international research institute
In December 2025, IIT officially released its first Guide on Inclusive Language. Available in both English and Italian, the guide is the result of a strategic collaboration between the Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Impact Office and the Communication and External Relations Directorate.
Initiated in 2024, this project represents a significant step in operationalising the Institute’s Gender Equality Plan (GEP). It aims to foster a research environment where every individual is respected and represented, regardless of their background.
The challenge: a bilingual research environment
Why did we need a specific guide for IIT? Language is not merely a medium of expression; it is a structuring force that shapes our institutional culture. However, IIT operates at a unique intersection of international and local cultures, creating a specific linguistic friction:
- English: While gender-neutral in grammar, English is a second language for many staff members, often leading to a lack of nuance in sensitive contexts.
- Italian: Standard Italian relies heavily on the “overextended masculine”, a grammatical default that can render women and non-binary individuals linguistically invisible. This is particularly entrenched in administrative and policy writing, where legal-bureaucratic conventions favor fixed, less flexible formulations.
The Guide was created to bridge this gap, serving as the foundational infrastructure for equity, belonging, and scientific excellence.
Moving beyond gender: an intersectional approach
Benchmarking analysis of Italian research organisations revealed a landscape predominantly focused on gender asymmetry. We determined that a singular focus was insufficient for IIT’s complex, diverse environment.
To prevent the fragmentation of resources, we adopted a holistic intersectional framework covering six dimensions: Age, Culture, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Socioeconomic Status.
This comprehensive approach positions the IIT Guide as a distinct novelty within the national landscape.
Structure: designed for the fast-paced research context
Crucially, the guide was designed to be practical rather than theoretical. Recognising the time constraints typical of a fast-paced research environment, we minimized dense prose in favour of cognitive fluency. We wanted to lower the barrier to entry for inclusive communication.
The guide functions as a reference manual rather than a linear text. Each thematic chapter follows an identical, predictable four-part architecture: a clear glossary, the benefits of using inclusive language, comparative “Avoid / Try / Why” tables, key considerations.
The core pedagogical tool is the comparative table. By juxtaposing discouraged expressions with recommended alternatives, the visual design allows users to scan and solve a linguistic problem in seconds, making the inclusive choice the path of least resistance.
What’s next?
The project continues to grow. A paper detailing the methodology behind the guide has been submitted for peer review, and an update to the guide, expanding on further dimensions of inclusion, is already in preparation.
Access: the guide is currently available for download:
- English version: https://iit.canto.global/b/TOI3E
- Italian version: https://iit.canto.global/b/NMV94
