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So this is fun https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2020-10/gendergerechtigkeit-justizministerium-femininum-sprache-gesetzentwurf?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F">https://www.zeit.de/politik/d...
In German, like in Spanish or French, nouns referring to people are gendered: der Bürger/die Bürgerin = male/female citizen. But in the plural, when referring to a group in general — citizens — the male plural is used, the so-called masculine generic: die Bürger.
Now, there& #39;s been growing debate about whether that needs changing. Alternatives include, for example, the so-called "gender star": die Bürger*innen. That& #39;s gained some traction, especially on the left.
And some say: Let& #39;s just sometimes use the feminine generic — after all, if women are meant to feel included in the masculine-only form, why shouldn& #39;t men feel included in the feminine-only form? Enter the justice ministry...
So the German justice ministry (led by a woman) has just drawn up a draft law about insolvency that refers to people solely in the feminine generic. https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2020-10/gendergerechtigkeit-justizministerium-femininum-sprache-gesetzentwurf?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F">https://www.zeit.de/politik/d...
That& #39;s stirred up some controversy. The story above notes that bill drafting guidelines say the masculine generic is "traditionally used." The interior ministry has already stopped the draft law — saying there& #39;s a danger the draft law could legally only apply to women.
Which of course has prompted the only somewhat tongue-in-cheek question of whether the rest of Germany& #39;s laws could legally only apply to men. https://twitter.com/laloeffelstiel/status/1315961842452312065">https://twitter.com/laloeffel...
