Who to be on LinkedIn — Managerka or Manager? Choosing a Feminitive Strategy for Relocators in Poland

After moving to Poland, many people begin an active job search through every possible channel — LinkedIn, OLX, Pracuj.pl, and dozens of Telegram groups — often amidst an atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety. This usually involves learning two languages simultaneously: Polish and English. And then, there are these feminitives…

In the Polish language, they are currently everywhere and gaining momentum. In English, however, the trend is the opposite: any gender boundaries are being made as invisible as possible. How do you avoid getting confused? Who should you eventually "be" on LinkedIn? What strategy should you follow during interviews to avoid seeming like a "know-it-all activist" while also not looking outdated? Ahead of March 8th, we explore the role of feminine forms in language together with Tatsiana Rybalkina, a Warsaw-based Neurolanguage Coach and IT English specialist.

Let’s look at where feminitives come from and the different perspectives on them. In Polish, feminine professional forms are added to show that a woman can, in principle, hold a certain profession or position. The logic is this: if a girl only ever hears "manager," "doctor," "ship captain," or "president," it is difficult for her to associate herself with those roles or believe she can study for or grow into them. It is for this "visibility" that feminine forms are being actively integrated into the Polish language.

In English, the logic is exactly the opposite — maintaining neutrality to show equality. It doesn't matter if the director is a man or a woman; what matters is the role itself.

— "Language processes are moving in different directions. In Poland, we are seeing an active expansion of feminitives: psycholożka, socjolożka, ministra, programistka, dyrektorka, architektka, inżynierka," explains Tatsiana Rybalkina. — "In the English-speaking business community (especially in international IT), the vector is different: not feminization, but neutralization. For example, instead of chairman, we use chair or chairperson; instead of fireman / policeman / salesman, we use firefighter, police officer, or sales representative; and instead of businessman, we use business professional."

At the same time, it is important to understand that language is a living thing. Speaking about recent changes, our expert notes that while IT roles were gender-neutral from the start (developer, engineer, product manager, team lead), in other professions, gender is being erased and familiar words are becoming archaic. For instance, actor is now used for both men and women (the form actress is gradually fading from professional use). Additionally, the neutral they is actively used as a singular pronoun in official communication.

— "Essentially, while a woman in Polish might emphasize her professional identity through a feminine form (programistka), in English, the professional role is usually emphasized regardless of gender (software engineer)," Rybalkina summarizes. — "For one part of society, this is a matter of women's visibility in professions. For another, it is a controversial linguistic innovation. A relocator ends up in the middle of this discussion, even if they originally just wanted to 'state their job title correctly'."

— "Many Belarusans and Ukrainians who have moved to Poland find themselves in a unique situation: they are simultaneously learning Polish for daily life and English for work. It is specifically the topic of feminitives that often triggers the feeling of 'I don't understand anything anymore'," says Tatsiana Rybalkina, explaining the neurobiology behind it.

The fact is, from a neurolinguistic perspective, the brain loves systems. When we study one language, we build stable neural connections: "profession — this specific form." When two different logics appear in parallel (emphasizing gender in one language while removing it in the other), the brain experiences a cognitive load.

There are two important facts to understand to avoid giving up or falling into despair: the brain does not store languages in separate "folders," and stress amplifies the feeling of chaos.

— "Language systems partially overlap and compete for resources. Therefore, confusion is a normal neurobiological reaction, not a sign that 'something is wrong with you'," explains the Neurolanguage Coach. — "Furthermore, when a person is in the middle of relocation, adaptation, and job hunting, cortisol levels are higher. Under stress, mental flexibility decreases, making it harder to switch between systems. Because of this, the feminitive issue can seem larger than it actually is."

With 15 years of experience as a Neurolanguage Coach and IT English specialist, Tatsiana Rybalkina recommends a strategy of contextual flexibility when job hunting and communicating with colleagues:

— "In Polish, follow the environment. If the company actively uses feminitives — go ahead and use them. If neutral forms prevail in their communication — adapt," says Tatsiana. — "On LinkedIn, you can choose the form that matches your sense of identity and the company's style. The key is consistency."

In English, according to the specialist, it is better to stick to the international standard. In CVs, on LinkedIn, and during interviews, it is best to use universally accepted neutral role titles: Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Product Manager, UX Designer, QA Engineer, Marketing Specialist. As the expert notes, this aligns with the global market and avoids unnecessary distractions.

Ultimately, Tatsiana Rybalkina believes that strategy is more important than ideology.

— "For a relocator, it is more important to be clear, professionally appropriate, and adaptive than to take a hard stance in a linguistic debate," says the expert. — "Language is a tool for integration and career growth. If you are learning two languages at once, give yourself permission not to look for the 'only correct' version. Different rules apply in different languages — and that’s okay. Flexibility is not a weakness; it is a sign of high linguistic competence."