GS.6: Deep Dive – Gender-neutral Language Around the World

Approximate reading time: 3 minutes

The evolution of gender-neutral language is a global phenomenon, reshaping how we communicate and acknowledge gender diversity. Miriam Berger’s 2019 article in the Washington Post captures this shift, highlighting the innovative ways languages worldwide are adapting to be more inclusive. This section reveals an international movement towards embracing and respecting non-binary identities, showcasing a significant change in both language and societal attitudes. (Study note: The purpose of this section is not to make you memorise this international vocabulary, but rather to appreciate the worldwide effort being made toward creating gender-neutral vocabulary).

• English: “They” is now recognized as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun. For example, “They are going to the store” can refer to a single person.
• Spanish: Alternative endings like “x”, “@” and “e” are used for inclusivity. For instance, “Latinx” includes all genders, as opposed to “Latino” or “Latina”. For example, instead of “amigos” (male friends) or “amigas” (female friends), the term “amigues” is used to refer to a group of friends of mixed or unspecified genders.
• Arabic: Speakers are challenging gender norms, sometimes defaulting to the female form for inclusivity. For example, using the feminine pronoun for everyone in certain dialects, such as the phrase “mujtama’a al meem” (مجتمع الميم) — or the meem community — a reference to the m-sounding Arabic letter that starts off these terms when translated into Arabic.
• Hebrew: New gender-neutral endings for verbs and nouns are emerging, for example, using both male and female cases on nouns and verbs, separated by a period. In Hebrew, the word for “friend” changes based on gender. The masculine form is “חבר” (chaver) and the feminine form is “חברה” (chaverah). To create a gender-neutral or inclusive form, combining both masculine and feminine endings, the word would be adapted as follows: “חבר.ה” (chaver.eh).
• German: This language is moving towards gender-neutral nouns in official communication. In German, the traditional words for “friend” are gender-specific: “freund” for a male friend and “freundin” for a female friend. To create a gender-neutral term, one way to make the term “friend” gender-neutral in German could be to use a formulation that focuses on the action or the relationship rather than the gender of the person, e.g., “person die ich kenne” (person I know).
• French: Feminists use asterisks for gender-neutral nouns. An example is “ami*e*s”, combining “ami” (male friend) and “amie” (female friend).
• Swedish: “Hen” is a new gender-neutral pronoun. It’s used as an alternative to “han” (he) and “hon” (she), like in “Hen går till butiken” (They are going to the store).

This linguistic evolution is not just about words; it’s a reflection of societal shifts towards recognizing and respecting the spectrum of gender identities. As language continues to evolve, it becomes a powerful tool in fostering a more inclusive and accepting environment for gender expansive people.