The Perception and Impact of Non-inclusive Language in Software Artifacts
2026-07-01 • Software Engineering
Software Engineering
AI summaryⓘ
The authors studied how software developers feel about certain words like "whitelist" and "master/slave" that some people think are not inclusive. They surveyed over 1,200 open-source contributors to see if these terms affect how they feel at work. Overall, most people didn't feel strongly negatively impacted, but women, non-binary individuals, and those in the U.S. were more likely to see these words as problematic. Among these groups, non-binary participants felt more negative effects overall, and women felt their sense of belonging was especially affected. The study helps understand who might be impacted when such language is used in software work.
Non-inclusive terminologySoftware developmentInclusionWorkplace cultureSense of belongingOpen-source softwareDemographic groupsSurvey researchTeam dynamicsProfessional experiences
Authors
Ahmad J. Tayeb, Mohammad D. Alahmadi
Abstract
Terminology such as "whitelist/blacklist," "master/slave," "man-hours," or "dummy value" has long been part of the technical vocabulary used in software artifacts, including source code, version histories, and documentation. In recent years, however, many of these expressions have been recognized as potentially non-inclusive and unwelcoming to groups historically underrepresented in software development, such as people of color, women, and individuals with disabilities. Consequently, a growing movement within the software industry has sought to replace these terms with more inclusive alternatives. Despite these initiatives, little is empirically known about how software developers perceive such terminology or how its continued use may influence their professional experiences and sense of belonging. This paper addresses the knowledge gap by examining how software developers perceive non-inclusive terminology in software and its perceived impact on team dynamics, productivity, belonging, and well-being. We surveyed open-source contributors and received 1,517 responses, of which 1,212 were complete and analyzed. On average, respondents reported low negative workplace impact overall; however, perceptions and impacts varied by demographic group. Women and non-binary participants, as well as respondents residing in the United States, were more likely to view the terms as non-inclusive. Among those who considered the terminology non-inclusive, non-binary participants reported higher overall negative impacts than male respondents, and female participants reported higher impact specifically on their sense of belonging.