What is gender-inclusive language?

The two guiding principles of gender-inclusive language are:

1. Equal Representation

Gender-inclusive language aims at representing people of all sexes and gender identities respectfully and on equal terms. The practice of gender-inclusive language originated as an attempt to redress the systematic erasure of women from public discourse and historiography. By highlighting the presence and achievements of women and by challenging male-centred forms of language, feminists strove to disrupt traditional gender roles and to write women into history.

More recent approaches to gender-inclusive language also acknowledge gender diversity between and beyond the »male-female« binary. Consequently, they seek not only to make visible the presence and social contributions of women, but of non-binary, trans, and intersex people (and those with other gender identities) as well.

2. Anti-Discrimination

Language creates realities. Language is not merely a passive reflection of our world; the way we speak and write can also actively re/produce unconscious biases and forms of social exclusion. For instance, when we default to »man« or »man«-compounds in generalizing statements about groups (e.g. »the achievements of mankind« ), we not only erase the presence or contributions of women or non-binary people; we also reaffirm the unconscious bias that men are intellectually, morally, and physically superior. Besides reproducing sexist stereotypes or prejudices, gendered expressions or figures of speech may also carry with them heteronormative or otherwise discriminatory notions about how people should behave based on their (perceived) sex/gender (e.g. »Paul throws like a girl«). Moreover, many gendered formulations, such as the common salutation »Ladies and Gentlemen«, work from the normalized assumption that all of humanity can be neatly separated into the binary categories of »women« and »men«.

It is important to remember that language is always evolving. New words or phrases are constantly entering our vocabulary and old ones fall into disuse. We also have the ability to create new forms of language or use language in creative ways to actively counter discrimination or exclusion and to make space for populations that have previously been rendered invisible. Consequently, practicing gender-inclusive language is not just a symbolic gesture showing one’s commitment to gender equality; it is also a concrete tool for raising public awareness, shifting people’s perceptions, and changing individual attitudes. In this way, gender-inclusive language contributes to the ongoing fight for the equality of all sexes and genders.