Gender neutral language: Difference between revisions

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''See also: [[Glossary of French gender and sex terminology]].''
''See also: [[Glossary of French gender and sex terminology]].''


French, like other romance languages, traditionally only has two grammatical genders: masculine and feminine. Additionally, according to the standard language rules, masculine is always treated as the generic gender, meaning that a mixed-gender group will always be referred to in masculine (and not in feminine, unless everyone is a woman). French inclusive language refuses such rules, and feminist and queer activists have developed over the last few decades different ways to adapt the French language to be more inclusive of women and gender minorities.  
French, like other romance languages, traditionally has only two grammatical genders: masculine and feminine. Additionally, according to the standard language rules, masculine is always treated as the generic gender, meaning that a mixed-gender group will always be referred to in masculine (and not in feminine, unless everyone is a woman). French inclusive language refuses such rules, and feminist and queer activists have developed over the last few decades different ways to adapt the French language to be more inclusive of women and gender minorities.  


However, there is not one single way to speak inclusively in French, but rather, there are a wide variety of tools and workarounds one can use to adapt one's language. It should also be noted that the "mainstream" inclusive language used by an ever growing number or people, journals and institutions aims at being inclusive of women. These changes, albeit fairly minimal, are still very controversial with certain people. The problem of a language inclusive of nonbinary people hasn't yet reached the mainstream debate and remains mostly confined within queer and feminist circles.  
However, there is not one single way to speak inclusively in French, but rather, there are a wide variety of tools and workarounds one can use to adapt one's language. It should also be noted that the "mainstream" inclusive language used by an ever growing number or people, journals and institutions aims at being inclusive of women. These changes, albeit fairly minimal, are still very controversial with certain people. The problem of a language inclusive of nonbinary people hasn't yet reached the mainstream debate and remains mostly confined within queer and feminist circles.  
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