Gender-sensitive German

Neutral words, such as "Studierende" or "Mitarbeitende", are called substantivised participles, in which in German no grammatical gender is recognisable, especially in the plural. The criticism is that these words formally describe an action taking place at the moment. So are "Studierende" only "Studierende" while they are actually studying in the library or sitting in a lecture? The meaning of substantivised participles is by no means only related to what is currently happening. This is shown by well-known terms such as "Auszubildende", "Heranwachsende" or "Stillende". They therefore describe either actions taking place at the moment or ordinary, recurring actions, which also applies to "Studierende, Lehrende or Dozierende".

For many blind and visually impaired people, short forms of gender in German are problematic and should ideally be avoided and gender-neutral words used instead. If this is not possible and a short form is to be used, the German Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBSV) recommends using the gender star*.

• The wording "Ärzt*in" or "Köch*in", for example, is unfortunate. The masculine forms "Arzt" or "Koch" are not visible here. Alternatively, "ärztliche Fachperson/ ärztliches Fachpersonal" or "Küchenpersonal" can be used here or the male and female form can be used.
• In the case of plural forms, such as "Referent*innen", the singular and plural are formally mixed together. Alternatively, "Referierenden" or "Vortragenden" can be used here.

Gender-sensitive or neutral phrases are becoming increasingly common in greetings, both in speeches and in writing. The form of address "Frau" or "Mann" is often no longer used. 

To make women explicitly visible in abbreviations of titles, such as Prof. or Dr., the superscript female word ending "in" can be used. To do this, the "in" must be for example marked in Microsoft Word and superscripted with Ctrl+ (sometimes only works with the +*~ key). It is also possible to use the gender star*.

As it is not possible to draw certain conclusions about a person's gender identity based on their first name or appearance, especially in international contexts, pronouns can be requested or addressed in various situations. If you mention your pronouns in your email signature or when introducing yourself, you are signalling that gender-inclusive language is important to you. Teachers and supervisors in particular can set an example and create a respectful atmosphere for everyone.

Email signature:

Use your signature to draw attention to your preferred pronouns. For example: "My pronouns are she/her. Please let me know how you would like to be addressed."

Introductions:

Introduce yourself using your pronouns. For example: "Hello, I'm Andrea Rozzi. My pronouns are he/him. You are welcome to use my first name."

No pronouns

People who identify as non-binary or trans sometimes do not use pronouns. This means that the first name is used instead of pronouns. For example: „Jen hat in der letzten Sitzung von der Veranstaltung berichtet. Jen sagte, es waren tolle Redner*innen dabei.“

Neo-pronouns

Another option is the use of neopronouns. There are still no established gender-neutral pronouns in German, so either neologisms (dey/deren, hen/hem) or terms from other languages are used (English: they or Finnish: hän). For example: „Sam war beim letzten Termin nicht dabei, ich hoffe dey kann nächstes Mal wieder dabei sein.“

Note: Most people introduce themselves using their preferred pronouns. If you are unsure which pronouns to use, simply ask. For example: "My pronouns are they/them. Which pronouns can I use for you?"

Gender-neutral or gender-sensitive phrases can also be chosen in English. It is also possible to make women specifically visible and audible.

• Gabriele Diewald & Anja Steinhauer (2022): Handbuch geschlechtergerechte Sprache. 2. aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage. Berlin: Dudenverlag.
• Gabriele Diewald und Anja Steinhauer (2017): Richtig gendern. Wie Sie angemessen und verständlich schreiben? Berlin: Dudenverlag.
• Gabriele Diewald (2022): „Geschlechtergerechte Sprache zwischen Sprachfreiheit und Sprachregelung.“ In: Geschlechterinklusive Sprache an Hochschulen fördern. Handreichung. Sandra Beaufaÿs, Jeremia Herrmann, Beate Kortendiek (Hrsg.). Koordinations- und Forschungsstelle Netzwerk Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung NRW: Essen, 7-10.
• Gabriele Diewald, Martin Ptok, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf (2020): Geschlechtergerechte Sprache in Theorie und Praxis
• Braun, Friederike et al. (2007): »Aus Gründen der Verständlichkeit…«: Der Einfluss generisch maskuliner und alternativer Personenbezeichnungen auf die kognitive Verarbeitung von Texten. In: Psychologische Rundschau, 58 (3), S.183-189.
• Julia Misersky, Asifa Majid & Tineke M. Snijders (2019): Grammatical Gender in German Influences How Role-Nouns Are Interpreted: Evidence from ERPs, Discourse Processes, 56:8, 643-654
• Anatol Stefanowitsch (2014): Genderkampf: Wo die Kritiker geschlechtergerechter Sprache sich täuschen. Merkur, 68(9), 847–852

• TU9-Handreichung: Empfehlungen zur geschlechtergerechten Verwendung von Sprache
• DFG-Empfehlung zur Verwendung des Gendersterns
• Geschlechtergerechte Sprache in einfacher Sprache erklärt
• Quarks: Was gendern bringt und was nicht
• Gesellschaft für Deutsche Sprache: Müssen Studierende pausenlos studieren?
• gender<ed> thoughts - Working Paper Series. Göttinger Centrum für Geschlechterforschung 
• Genderleicht & Bildermächtig - Journalismus diskriminierungsfrei in Wort und Bild
• Geschlechtergerechte Amtssprache - Rechtliche Expertise zur Einschätzung der Rechtswirksamkeit von Handlungsformen der Verwaltung bei Verwendung des Genderstern oder von geschlechtsumfassenden Formulierungen von Prof. Dr. Ulrike Lembke