What does „gendern“ or „geschlechtergerechte Sprache“ mean?
Why should we do that?
- to promote equality
- to stop discrimination/invisibility of certain groups
- to stop reproduction of stereotypical role models (der Arzt – die Krankenschwester vs. die Ärztin – der Krankenpfleger)
- to promote an inclusive language
What is the idea behind it?
The idea is that language is a powerful tool and what and how we say things, is how we see and think them. If we do not name everyone, we do not think of everyone.
What options do I have to do that?
| Name of the method | Paarform | Binnen-I | Schrägstrich | Gender Gap | Sternchen/Asterisk | geschlechtsneutraler Plural | Passiv |
| male plural (not inclusive) | die Studenten | die Mechaniker | die Frisöre | die Manager | die Trainer | die Teilnehmer | Die Sekretäre schicken ein E-Mail. |
| examples for inclusive forms (plural) | die Studenten und Studentinnen | die MechanikerInnen
der/die MechanikerIn |
die Frisör/innen | die Manager_innen | die Trainer*innen | die Teilnehmenden | Das E-Mail wird geschickt. |
| examples for inclusive forms (singular) | der Student und die Studentin | der/die MechanikerIn | der/die Frisör/in | der_die Manger_in | der*die Trainer*in | der/die Teilnehmende | Das E-Mail wird geschickt |
| meaning/result | makes male and female gender visible | makes male and female gender visible | makes male and female gender visible | makes all genders visible, also people who do not want to be categorized or feel part of male or female | makes all genders visible, also people who do not want to be categorized or feel part of male or female | neutralizes gender | neutralizes gender |
| pronunciation | die Studenten und Studentinnen
der Student und die Studentin |
die Mechaniker und Mechanikerinnen
der Mechaniker und die Mechnikerin |
die Frisöre und Frisörinnen
der Frisör und die Frisörin |
die Manager (pause) innen
der (pause) die Manager (pause) in |
die Trainer (pause) innen
der (pause) die Trainer (pause) in |
die Teilnehmenden
der oder die Teilnehmende |
Do I have to do that?
Generally speaking: no.
BUT:
The Austrian government has fixed the non-discrimination and equality law in the Austrian Constitution under article 7 paragraph 2. to promote the use of the proposed forms above. Most universities require their students to use gender neutral or inclusive language and a lot of companies are implementing or already have implemented these rules as well.
What you choose to use in your private life is of course still up to you.
