Shielding Women Against Status Loss: The Masculine Form and Its Alternatives in the Italian Language

It is well established that the masculine form (MF) makes women invisible, yet little is known about which form of feminization represents the most appropriate alternative. In the present study, conducted in Italian language, the authors compared the MF (e.g., avvocato, lawyer) with two forms of feminization, namely, the asymmetrical and traditional suffix "-essa" (traditional forms of feminization [TFF], e.g., avvocatessa) that is currently in use and modern alternatives (modern forms of feminization [ModFF], e.g., avvocata) that represent neologisms. Results show that women professionals described by the TFF "-essa" are perceived as having less social status than those described either by the MF or ModFF. The authors conclude that symmetrical forms may shield women against both invisibility and status loss.