Gender neutral language: Difference between revisions
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'''Gender-neutral language''', also called '''gender-inclusive language''', is the practice of using words that don't give an idea of someone being female or male. For example, the word "fireman" gives the idea that a person in that work is male. An offer for a job as a "cleaning lady" gives the idea that only a woman should do the job. The gender-neutral alternatives are to say "fire fighter" and "janitor," respectively. Then it is easier to see that these jobs can be done by a person of any gender. Gender-neutral language is important in [[Feminism|feminism]], because changing the way that people talk can help make [[sexism|sexist]] ideas less common. For example, the sexist idea that some jobs should only be done by people of certain genders. | '''Gender-neutral language''', also called '''gender-inclusive language''', is the practice of using words that don't give an idea of someone being female or male. For example, the word "fireman" gives the idea that a person in that work is male. An offer for a job as a "cleaning lady" gives the idea that only a woman should do the job. The gender-neutral alternatives are to say "fire fighter" and "janitor," respectively. Then it is easier to see that these jobs can be done by a person of any gender. Gender-neutral language is important in [[Feminism|feminism]], because changing the way that people talk can help make [[sexism|sexist]] ideas less common. For example, the sexist idea that some jobs should only be done by people of certain genders. | ||
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==Dutch== | ==Dutch== | ||
{{main|gender neutral language in Dutch}} | |||
==English== | ==English== | ||
{{main|gender neutral language in English}} | |||
English is one of the easiest languages to speak in a gender neutral way. One reason for this is it is in the Germanic language family, it has always had three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Another reason is that in the 1200s, English speakers stopped making gender a part of every noun, adjective, and article. Grammatical gender survived only in personal pronouns and some common nouns.<ref>Dictionary.com. "English used to have gendered nouns?! Yes!" May 16, 2012. ''Dictionary.com'' (blog). [http://blog.dictionary.com/oldenglishgender/ http://blog.dictionary.com/oldenglishgender/]</ref> On the other hand, a movement in the 18th century condemned neutral language like [[singular they]], and insisted it sounded more educated to use masculine language like "he" instead, like in Latin. All these changes to English still have effects today, and sometimes create problems. For example, old laws are not clear about whether they use "he" to mean anybody, or men only. Linguists, feminists, and LGBT people have been working on finding the best solutions to the remaining problems with gender exclusive language. Over the past century, they created hundreds of [[English neutral pronouns|pronouns]], out of the lingering belief that "singular they" pronouns will not do. From the 1970s, they have also developed alternatives to gendered words, such as "mail carrier" rather than "mailman." | |||
==French== | ==French== | ||
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==German== | ==German== | ||
{{main|gender neutral language in German}} | |||
==Hindi== | ==Hindi== | ||
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==Spanish== | ==Spanish== | ||
[[File:ParentsFloat2009MarchaDF.JPG|thumb|Parents of Gays float at the 2009 Marcha Gay in Mexico City. The banner shows the @ symbol substituted for the masculine "o" or feminine "a" to make it gender neutral.]] | |||
{{main|Gender neutral language in Spanish}} | |||
As a language in the Romance family, Spanish has two grammatical genders, masculine and feminine, which are part of every adjective, noun, and article. This makes it nearly impossible to speak in a completely gender-neutral in standard Spanish. Fminists, LGBT people, and other activists today are creating methods to speak Spanish in a gender-neutral way when needed. Because the ending -o is masculine, and -a is feminine, it's now common for people to substitute these with a different letter or symbol to create a neutral version. Some common examples of this are "L@s Latin@s,"<ref name="sikian">Sikian. ''Reddit''. Forum comment. 2015. https://www.reddit.com/r/genderqueer/comments/2ymn25/gender_in_language_to_all_you_nonbinary_redditors/cpdjdhi</ref><ref name="gubb">Sophia Gubb. "Construyendo Un Género Neutro En Español – Para Una Lengua Feminista, Igualitaria E Inclusiva." February 10, 2013. ''Sophia Gubb's Blog''. Personal blog entry. http://www.sophiagubb.com/construyendo-un-genero-neutro-en-espanol-para-una-lengua-feminista-igualitaria-e-inclusiva/</ref><ref name="socialchange">http://www.spanishforsocialchange.com/2015/05/living-as-non-binary-or-gender-neutral.html</ref><ref name="genderfork">http://genderfork.com/2013/question-gender-neutral-honorifics-in-spanish/</ref> "Lxs Latinxs,"<ref name="sikian /><ref name="genderfork /><ref name="socialchange /> "Les Latines,"<ref name="Schmidt">{{Cite web |title=A Language for All |last=Schmidt |first=Samantha |work=Washington Post |date=5 December 2019 |access-date=29 May 2020 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2019/12/05/teens-argentina-are-leading-charge-gender-neutral-language/}}</ref><ref name="socialchange" /> and even "LⒶs LatinⒶs."<ref name="tawny">Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref> | |||
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==Swedish== | ==Swedish== | ||