Enhancing Onboarding Flows with Gender-Neutral Language
Introduction
Ensuring inclusivity in user onboarding is crucial. Small linguistic choices can significantly impact a user's sense of belonging. This post focuses on how the Breniapp/brenia project addressed and resolved gendered language within its onboarding assistant to create a more welcoming experience.
The Problem: Gendered Language in Onboarding
The initial onboarding experience within Breniapp/brenia used gendered language in its assistant's messaging. This presented a potential barrier to inclusivity, as not all users identify with binary gender norms. Examples of such language included:
- Using gendered adjectives and participles directed at the user (e.g., "Tranquila, te ayudo" - "Relax, I'll help you" [feminine form]).
- Gendered phrasing related to correction or assistance (e.g., "para corregirla" - "to correct it" [feminine]).
These instances, while seemingly minor, can subtly alienate users and detract from the overall experience.
The Solution: Implementing Gender-Neutral Language
To address this issue, several changes were implemented to ensure a more gender-neutral and inclusive onboarding flow. These changes focused on:
- Replacing Gendered Adjectives: Phrases like "Tranquila, te ayudo" were replaced with gender-neutral alternatives such as "Sin problema, vamos juntos paso a paso" ("No problem, let's go through it together step by step").
- Simplifying Correction Phrasing: The phrase "para corregirla" was simplified to remove the gendered pronoun.
- Updating Section Labels: Labels such as "Bienvenida" ("Welcome" [feminine]) were replaced with gender-neutral terms like "Inicio" ("Start").
- AI Prompt Reinforcement: An explicit rule was added to the system prompt of the AI assistant, instructing it to avoid using gendered adjectives or participles when addressing the user. The AI was directed to use verbs and infinitives instead, across all languages.
For example, instead of:
$message = "Listo, ya corregido"; // Ready, already corrected [masculine]
The code now uses:
$message = "Corregido. Sigamos donde estábamos"; // Corrected. Let's continue where we were
Impact and Benefits
By implementing these changes, the Breniapp/brenia project aimed to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all users. The shift to gender-neutral language ensures that the onboarding experience is accessible and respectful, regardless of a user's gender identity.
Key Takeaway
Small linguistic adjustments can significantly improve inclusivity. Review your application's user-facing text for gendered language and proactively replace it with neutral alternatives. Especially, provide clear instructions to the used AI models to avoid any gendered words.
