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Whether gender-equitable language is needed is just as controversial in French as in German.
Macron and gender: French President Emmanuel Macron doesn’t believe in so-called gendering in the French language. There is no need to give in to the spirit of the times, he said on the occasion of the opening of a center for the French language. “The masculine number corresponds to the neuter in French, you don’t have to put periods in the middle of the words or hyphens or other things to make it readable,” said Macron. He is referring to the possibility of using two dots in French to show that both genders are meant.
What is meant by gender? The term gender, Germanized from English, means using gender-appropriate language and thus expressing the equal treatment of all genders or identities. Gender is controversial in both the German and French languages. It’s about which forms should be used. In French, gender-sensitive language is also referred to as inclusive language.
Prohibit gendering: The French Senate has approved a draft law that wants to ban the use of gender-sensitive language in legal texts, but also in instruction manuals, employment contracts and other everyday documents. Now the larger chamber of parliament must decide on the introduction of the gender ban. According to SRF France correspondent Daniel Voll, it is unlikely that the National Assembly will support this proposal.
A gender ban would require a catalog of penalties if the ban is violated.
Macron doesn’t want a ban either: However, despite his statement, the French president does not want to introduce an official ban, the SRF France correspondent notes. “A ban would require a catalog of penalties if the ban is violated. That would be something completely different.”
This is what the Académie Française says: The Académie Française is a French learned society based in Paris. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in French intellectual life and has existed since 1634. Its goal is the “unification and cultivation of the French language”. The Académie has taken a strict stance against the use of inclusive language. In 1980 the first woman was admitted to the language care committee.
Double forms are in use: “In practice, for example at universities, inclusive language is used very often,” says correspondent Voll. Inclusive language is even used in public administration, as he illustrates with an example: “In the city of Paris, a memorial plaque to former members of parliament was recently installed in the plenary hall of the town hall – with double shapes.” This caused huge waves when it was discovered. “The Senate wants to put a stop to such examples with the law,” explains Voll.