Language has a major influence on our thinking. It structures our understanding of the world. Conversely, what language does not name is not perceived by people. This leads to social exclusion and discrimination.
Language conveys gender stereotypes. It plays an important and complex role in the production of gender and certain ideas of gender. A simple example is first names, which are generally interpreted as female or male.
The Observatory aims to use gender-sensitive language on its website and in its publications. Gender-sensitive language seeks to develop and establish linguistic forms that represent and address all people and thus reflects gender diversity.
We want to consciously move away from a binary language that only includes cis-hetero people in the form of women and men. In this way, we also take up evidence-based research findings that gender exists on a spectrum (Ainsworth 2015).
However, data that reveal gender-related differences continue to be collected in binary form in most cases (e.g. the gender pay gap). This also serves to make the structurally determined gender-related disadvantage of women compared to men visible.
The Observatory wants to make fundamentally structural, gender-related exclusions and discrimination visible. At the same time, we would like to draw attention to the fact that the binary understanding of gender on which language is based is inadequate. For these reasons, we use the gender star for women* and men*. In this way, the structural inequalities to the detriment of women* remain visible and are explicitly named, while the gender star simultaneously breaks up the binary language.
If spellings deviating from the gender star (*) appear in our texts, we have adopted these as self-designations from the original text or it is clear that only women and/or only men are meant, for example in legal texts or if the persons named have explicitly assigned themselves to one of the two genders
Glossary
Adultism
Adultism is the discrimination of young people.
It is based on the assumed superiority of adults, in which young people are perceived as being inferior.
Adultism is therefore a form of discrimination that everyone experiences at some point in their lives, but which can be outgrown. Adultist structures in politics and legislation take the form of policy measures and laws affecting young people directly or indirectly, while these young people’s perspectives are not taken into account (Bostanci/Hornung 2023: 133f.).
Biological sex
Sex is not binary, but a continuum between the male and female poles.
In modern biology, the idea of sex as a continuum is increasingly gaining ground. On this continuum, 'female' and 'male' are two poles. In between, there are numerous intermediate-sex levels. As a result, all people have a mix of more or less masculine and more or less feminine physical characteristics (Ainsworth 2015).
This mixture is most evident in inter* people. They have an ambiguous sex because their sex characteristics vary: they are people who are neither male nor female or both male and female, but in any case not exclusively male or female (Schultz/Plett 2017: 1).
Gender
The term gender refers to social gender relations, i.e. the ideas, expectations and norms that apply to people in a society.
It differs from the term sex, which refers to the biological sex that is determined by sexual characteristics.
The term 'gender' shows that gender relations are not a natural, un-changeable fact, but are socially determined, and therefore changeable. What applies to people in gender roles assigned to them, and what scope and opportunities they have or do not have as a result, varies across historical periods and types of society.
In Europe, people currently live in a male-dominated society (patriarchy) in which cisgender, gender binary and heterosexuality (heteronormativity) are the dominant norms and can be understood as social power relations that lead to various privileges and exclusions of people in our society.
Doing gender means that gender is constantly recreated in social interaction, but also through rules, norms and social institutions. However, this is not necessarily an intentional act. Rather, doing gender takes place in routines and usually remains unreflected (Prechtl 2005: 144). Nevertheless, people can be socially 'punished' if they deviate from the prevailing norms (LGBTIQ* people) (BMZ 2024; Faulstich-Wieland 2004: 175, 181; Gildemeister 2008; Prechtl 2005: 144).
Equal rights, gender equality and gender equity
Equal rights represent a demand for abolishing any legal restrictions that make people unequal and ensuring that people are not discriminated against.
Asking for gender equality moves beyond those rights and includes addressing aspects like the unequal effects of gender roles and gendered divisions of labour discussed below.
Gender equity calls for serving justice for people of historically disadvantaged genders and ensuring that the gender identity of a person does not affect their opportunities and living situation (UN 2005).
Intersectionality
Intersectionality describes the simultaneity of different forms of discrimination. The focus is on the effects of multiple forms of discrimination, which can influence and reinforce each other, affecting the daily lives of individuals (Britannica 2024).
Intersectional feminism “has set itself the goal of recognizing multiple discrimination and accepting multiple identities.” [own translation] (Center for anti-discrimination educational work). It is about looking at complex realities of people’s lives and the effects of multiple, joint-up forms of discrimination (Ableism, adultism, antisemitism, LGBTIQ* hostility, racism, sexism).Heteronormativity
Heteronormativity refers to “[...] the norms of heterosexuality and binary sexuality and understands them as a social power relationship [...]. Cisnormativity is part of this heteronormative power relationship and refers to the norm of locating oneself within the gender/sex assigned at birth” (Dionisius 2021: 78; own translation).
Human Rights
Human rights are universal rights regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. They range from the most fundamental – the right to life – to those that make life worth living, such as the rights to food, education, work, health, and liberty. (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights)
LGBTIQ* people
LGBTIQ* is an abbreviation for the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter* and queer and thus an abbreviation for diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.Trans* refers to persons who feel that they do not or do not exclusively correspond to the sex they were assigned at birth. The opposite of trans is cis.
Inter* refers to persons with variations in sexual characteristics.
Queer is a collective term for all non-heteronormative and non-cisgender lifestyles and identities (gender) and is representative of all of them here. For example, for non-binary persons: "Non-binary is [...] an umbrella term for all genders that are not purely male or purely female. [...] However, only one's own perception is decisive for the identification as non-binary." (Queerulant_in e.V. 2019: 37; own translation).
The asterisk * represents the diversity of gender and sexual orientations as well as the processuality and incompleteness of gender orientation and positioning (Fütty 2019: 17 quoted after Dionisius 2020: 78).
Patriarchy
Patriarchy refers to a male-dominated form of society in which various areas are determined by male domination, e.g. many leading positions in politics and business are held by men* or research fields such as medicine are largely based on the male body (Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation).People of Colour
People of Colour is a self-designation to express solidarity of people who share experiences of racism (Ha 2009). When the term People of Colour is used on this website or in our publications, it refers to all people who experience(d) structural, institutional, and interpersonal power inequalities; and therefore discrimination of a racist nature vis-a-vis the majority of society.
race
The term race has different meanings. The Observatory understands race as "[…] a human classification system that is socially constructed to distinguish between groups of people who share phenotypical characteristics. Since race [own emphasis] is socially constructed, dominant groups in society have shaped and informed racial categories in order to maintain systems of power – thereby also producing racial inequality" (Oxford Bibliographies 2016)."The idea of race as an objective or 'real' category is a myth. Instead it is widely accepted that race is a social construction that nonetheless has very real implications and outcomes." (Meer 2014).
The italicized spelling of this term is intended to emphasize its construction.
Rainbow families
Rainbow families are defined as families in which children live with at least one LGBTIQ* parent: “These can be patchwork families with children from a previous heterosexual relationship, lesbian or gay couples who decide to have children together, transgender or intersex parents who bear responsibility for children in a wide variety of constellations. Rainbow families are families with biological, adopted or foster children, with one, two, three or [...] [several] parents” (own translation). (Regenbogenportal of the German Ministry BMFSFJ, Glossary)Reproductive justice
Reproductive justice is a scientific-activist concept, developed by Black women in the USA in 1994. This concept links social justice and reproductive health.
It has three basic principles: 1. the right to not have a child, 2. the right to have a child, and 3. the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments (Ross 2017).
Roma
The umbrella term Roma covers various groups, including Roma, Sinti, Kale, Romanichels, Boyash/Rudari, Ashkali, Egyptians, Yenish, Dom, Lom, Rom, and Abdal, as well as Traveller populations (gens du voyage, Gypsies, Camminanti, etc.), according to the terminology used by the European Commission. The Roma are the largest ethnic minority in Europe. Of the estimated 10 to 12 million Roma living in Europe, around six million are EU citizens or residents (EU KOM). The umbrella term Roma is rejected by some, who prefer to use their own group name instead (IDA e.V.).
Roma are often affected by intersectional discrimination, which also manifests itself in the form of racist labelling by others. During German National Socialism, between 220,000 and 500,000 Roma were registered, persecuted, and murdered (HateAid).Sexual and reproductive health and rights
Sexual and reproductive health and rights relate to the realisation of a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to all areas of human sexuality and reproduction (Guttmacher-Lancet Commission 2018).
These have been enshrined in international human rights since the United Nations World Population Conference in 1994.Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sexual Characteristics (SOGIESC)
Sexual orientation refers to "each person's capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to, and intimate and sexual relations with, individuals of a different gender or the same gender or more than one gender" (Yogyakarta Principles 2007: 8).Gender identity refers to "each person's deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth […]" (Yogyakarta Principles 2007: 8).
Gender expression is understood "as each person's presentation of the person's gender through physical appearance – including dress, hairstyles, accessories, cosmetics – and mannerisms, speech, behavioural patterns, names and personal references" (Yogyakarta Principles 2017: 6; Preamble). This presentation "may or may not conform to a person's gender identity” (ibid.). Gender expression is thus part of the definition of gender identity.
Sexual characteristics are "each person's physical features relating to sex, including genitalia and other sexual and reproductive anatomy, chromosomes, hormones, and secondary physical features emerging from puberty" (Yogyakarta Principles 2017: 6).
References
AdultismBostanci, Seyran / Hornung, Hjördis (2023): Intersektionales Empowerment von Kindern. Auswege aus Adultismus [Intersectional Empowerment of children. Escaping adultism]. In: Chehata, Yasmine/Jagusch, Birgit (eds.): Empowerment und Powersharing. Ankerpunkte – Positionierung – Arenen [Empowerment and power sharing. Anchor points – positioning – arenas]. Beltz Juventa: 132-146.
Biological sex
Ainsworth, Claire (2015): Sex redefined, in: Nature, Volume 518: 288–291.
Schultz, Ulrike/Plett, Konstanze (2017): Intersexualität und Transgender. In: Berghahn, Sabine/Schultz, Ulrike (Hrsg.): Rechtshandbuch für Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragte. Recht von A-Z für Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragte in der Öffentlichen Verwaltung, in Unternehmen und in Beratungsstellen, Hamburg: Dashöfer GmbH, Kapitel Aktuelles und Trends 2/1.7.: 1–10.
Gender & Doing Gender
Faulstich-Wieland, Hannelore (2004): Doing Gender : Konstruktivistische Beiträge, in: Glaser, Edith/Klika, Dorle/ Prengel, Annedore (Hrsg.): Handbuch Gender und Erziehungswissenschaften (Bad Heilbrunn / Obb.: Klinkhardt: 175–191.
Prechtl, Markus (2005): 'Doing Gender' im Chemieunterricht. Zum Problem der Konstruktion von Geschlechterdifferenz-Analyse, Reflexion und mögliche Konsequenzen für die Lehre von Chemie, Doctoral dissertation, University of Cologne.
Rubin, Gayle (1975). The traffic in women: Notes on the 'political economy' of sex. Monthly Review Press: 157–210.
Equal rights, gender equality and gender equity
UN – United Nations Population Fund (2005): Frequently asked questions about gender equality. Website.
Heteronormativity
Dionisius, Sarah (2021): Zwischen trans* Empowerment und Cisnormativität: leibliches Elternwerden in Grenzbereichen. In: Peukert et al. (Hrsg.): Elternschaft und Familie jenseits von Heteronormativität und Zweigeschlechtlichkeit. In: GENDER – Zeitschrift für Geschlecht, Kultur und Gesellschaft. Sonderheft 5: 77–91.
LGBTIQ* people
Dionisius, Sarah (2021): Zwischen trans* Empowerment und Cisnormativität: leibliches Elternwerden in Grenzbereichen. In: Peukert et al. (Hrsg.): Elternschaft und Familie jenseits von Heteronormativität und Zweigeschlechtlichkeit. In: GENDER – Zeitschrift für Geschlecht, Kultur und Gesellschaft. Sonderheft 5: 77–91.
Queerulant_in (2019): Vielfalt verstehen. Eine kleine Einführung in queere Begriffe. Landesfachstelle Hessen "Queere Jugendarbeit".
Patriarchy
Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (n. y.): Patriarchat [Patriarchy]. Online Gender Glossary.
People of Colour
Ha, Kien Nghi (2009): 'People of Color' als Diversity-Ansatz in der antirassistischen Selbstbenennungs- und Identitätspolitik. Heinrich Böll Stiftung.
race
Meer, Nasar (2014): Key concepts in race and ethnicity. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Oxford Bibliographies (2016): race. Website.
Reproductive justice
Ross, Loretta (2017): Reproductive Justice as Intersectional Feminist Activism. In: Souls – A Critical Journal of Black Politics, Culture, and Society19 (3): 286–314.
Roma
European Commission (n.d.): Roma equality, inclusion and participation in the EU. Website.
HateAid (n.d.): Rassismus gegen Sinti*zze und Rom*nja: Ein Überblick [Racism against Sinti*zze and Rom*nja: An overview]. Website.
IDA e.V. – Informations- und Dokumentationszentrum für Antirassismusarbeit e. V. (n.d.): Sinti:zze und Rom:nja. Website.
Sexual and reproductive health and rights
Guttmacher-Lancet Commission (2018): Accelerate Progress: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All. Executive Summary.
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC)
Yogyakarta Principles (2007): The Yogyakarta Principles. Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of March 2007.
Yogyakarta Principles (2017): The Yogyakarta Principles plus 10. Additional Principles and State Obligations on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relation to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics to Complement the Yogyakarta Principles, as adopted on 10 November 2017.