Gender-inclusive language

Universität Hamburg is committed to realizing and developing gender and diversity mainstreaming (see equal opportunity guidelines for academic area of Universität Hamburg 2016).

Implementing gender mainstreaming means thinking about gender at all decision-making levels. This includes thinking about the language we as members and employees of Universität Hamburg use.

A gender-neutral or gender-inclusive writing style can present challenges and sometimes requires new ways of thinking. There are, however, a few simple rules that you can observe and that are easy to apply in your daily writing.

The three strategies below are very useful:

• using "he or she" in texts referring to both men and women: If a student needs a new ID, he or she can contact...
  
• using gender-neutral terms: The chairperson, the spokesperson, the police officer
  
• using plurals instead of singulars to refer to people generally:
  • No: If a student needs a new ID, he can contact...
    
  • Yes: If students need new IDs, they can contact... (NB: The object in the sentence is likely also to be plural in this case!)
    

Please also make sure to use gender-inclusive language when creating webpages.  For more information generally, please refer to the University's Content Styleguide (PDF in German).

Information (PDF in German) about previous guidelines for using gender-inclusive language and further examples.

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The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency published a legal opinion document (PDF in German) that explains the protection of gender-inclusive language.