Abstract
This paper analyses the policies proposed by three international organisations to eliminate the use of sexist language. This research compares the main guidelines and recommendations presented at supranational level by the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the European Union to avoid the use of sexist language. It then evaluates the success of these policies via an analysis of texts. The use of sexist language within official documentation allows us to assess the success of language and gender policies and the extent to which recommendations have been implemented. Results of this research suggest that while significant attempts have been made to eliminate the use of sexist language in these three organisations, the implementation of the language and gender policies is sporadic at best.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barroso, J. (2009). Parliamentary questions. Online http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2009-2611&language=EN. Accessed February 2011.
Bengoechea, M. (2011). Non-sexist Spanish policies: An attempt bound to fail? Current Issues in Language Planning, 2(1), 35–53.
Beveridge, F., Nott, S., & Stephen, K. (2000). Mainstreaming and the engendering of policy-making: A means to an end? Journal of European Public Policy, 7(3), 385–405.
CEDAW. (1979). Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Online. http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/text/econvention.htm. Accessed January 2011. Accessed October 2010.
Council of Europe. (1985). Committee of Ministers Recommendation No. R (85)2. Online. https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/com.instranet.InstraServlet?command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet&InstranetImage=604906&SecMode=1&DocId=685788&Usage=2. Accessed February 2011.
Council of Europe. (1988). Declaration on equality of women and men. Online https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/com.instranet.InstraServlet?command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet&InstranetImage=609520&SecMode=1&DocId=699020&Usage=2. Accessed February 2011.
Council of Europe. (1990). Committee of ministers recommendation No. R (90)4. Online https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/com.instranet.InstraServlet?command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet&InstranetImage=1234348&SecMode=1&DocId=590474&Usage=2, Accessed February 2011.
Council of Europe. (1994a). Instruction No.33 1 June 1994 Concerning the Use of Non-Sexist Language at the Council of Europe. Online https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=SG/INST%281994%2933&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=original&Site=COE&BackColorInternet=DBDCF2&BackColorIntranet=FDC864&BackColorLogged=FDC864. Accessed February 2011.
Council of Europe. (1994b). Instruction no 33 du 1er juin 1994 relative à l’emploi d’un langage non sexiste au Conseil de l’Europe. Online https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=SG/INST(1994)33&Language=lanFrench&Ver=original&Site=COE&BackColorInternet=DBDCF2&BackColorIntranet=FDC864&BackColorLogged=FDC864. Accessed February 2011.
Council of Europe. (2005a). Rules of procedure of the committee of ministers of the council of Europe (5th ed.). Online https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=814763&BackColorInternet=9999CC&BackColorIntranet=FFBB55&BackColorLogged=FFAC75. Accessed February 2011.
Council of Europe. (2005b). Règlement Intérieur du Comité des Ministres (5th ed.). Online https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=814771&Site=COE. Accessed February 2011.
Council of Europe. (2007). Recommendation CM.Rec (2007)17 of the committee of ministers to member states on gender equality standards and mechanisms. Online https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1215219&Site=CM. Accessed February 2011.
European Commission. (1982). English style guide: A handbook for authors and translators in the European Commission, European Commission.
European Commission. (2009). Guía del Departamento de Lengua Española, Dirección General de Traducción. Online http://ec.europa.eu/translation/language_aids/freelance/documents/spanish/dgt_spanish_styleguide_es.pdf. Accessed February 2011.
European Commission. (2010). English style guide: A handbook for authors and translators in the European Commission (6th ed.). Brussels: European Commission Directorate General for Translation, European Commission. Online http://ec.europa.eu/translation/english/guidelines/documents/styleguide_english_dgt_en.pdf. Accessed January 2011.
European Parliament. (2003). Report on gender mainstreaming in the European parliament. Online http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A5-2003-0060&language=EN. Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities, February 26, 2003. Accessed February 2011.
European Parliament. (2008a). Rules of procedure of the European Parliament (16th edition). Online http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+RULES-EP+20080218+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN. February 2008. Accessed February 2011.
European Parliament. (2008b). Reglamento del Parlamento Europeo (16th edition). Online http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+RULES-EP+20080218+0+DOC+PDF+V0//ES. February 2008. Accessed February 2011.
European Parliament. (2009). Gender-neutral language in the European parliament. Online http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/publications/2009/0001/P6_PUB(2009)0001_EN.pdf. Accessed February 2011.
European Union. (1976). Council directive 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions. Online http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31976L0207:EN:HTML, 9 February 1976, Accessed February 2011.
European Union. (1997). Treaty of Amsterdam, Online. ttp://www.eurotreaties.com/amsterdamtreaty.pdf. October 2, 1997. Accessed February 2011.
European Union. (2000a). Council directive 2000/78/EC equal treatment in employment and occupation. Online.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2000:303:0016:0022:EN:PDF. November 27, 2000, Accessed February 2011.
European Union. (2000b). Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union (2000/C 364/01). Online. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf. Accessed February 2011.
European Union. (2000c). La Carta de los derechos fundamentales de la Unión Europea (2000/C 83/02) Online. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0389:0403:ES:PDF . Accessed February 2011.
European Union. (2005). New framework strategy for multilingualism. Brussels, November 22, 2005 COM(2005) 596 final. Online. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2005:0596:FIN:EN:PDF. Accessed February 2012.
European Union. (2008). EU strategy for multilingualism. Brussels, November 2008, Official Journal C320, December 16, 2008, P.0001–P.0003. Online http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:320:0001:01:EN:HTML. Accessed February 2012.
European Union. (2009). Strategic framework for cooperation on education and training (ET2020). Official Journal C119, P.0002–P.0010. May 28, 2009. Online. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2009:119:0002:01:EN:HTML. Accessed February 2012.
European Women’s Lobby (2000) Women excluded from the EU charter: Gender gap and sexist language. Online http://www.sos-sexisme.org/English/charte.htm. Accessed February 2011.
Krzyzanovski, M., & Wodak, R. (2011). Political strategies and language policies: The EU Lisbon strategy and its implications for the EU’s language and multilingualism policy. Language Policy, 10(2), 115–136.
Lakoff, R. (1975). Language and woman’s place. New York: Harper and Row.
Liddicoat, A. (2011). Feminist language planning. Current Issues in Language Planning, 12(1), 1–7.
Mar-Molinero, C., & Stevenson, P. (Eds.). (2006). Language ideologies, policies and practices. Languages and the future of Europe. Palgrave: Basingstoke.
Miller, K., & Swift, C. (1976). Words and women. New York: Anchor Press.
Milles, K. (2011). Feminist language planning in Sweden. Current Issues in Language Planning, 12(1), 21–23.
New South Wales Parliamentary Counsel. (1983). NSW parliamentary counsel’s office policies relating to plain language and gender-neutral expression. NSW Parliamentary Office. Online http://www.pco.nsw.gov.au/corporate/plainlanguagepol.pdf. Accessed February 2012.
Schwartz, M. (1995). Guidelines for bias-free writing. Pennsylvania: Indiana University Press.
Shohamy, E. (2006). Language policy and hidden agendas. London: Routledge.
Spender, D. (1980). Man made language. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Tannen, D. (1992). You just don’t understand: Women and men in conversation. London: Virago.
Teso, E. (2010). A comparative study of gender-based linguistic reform across four European countries, PhD thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.
The Daily Mail. (2009). EU bans use of Ms and Mrs (and sportsmen and statesmen) because it claims they are sexist. Online http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1162384/EU-bans-use-Miss-Mrs-sportsmen-statesmen-claims-sexist.html. March 16, 2009. Accessed January 2012.
UNESCO. (1987). Unesco general conference 1987, 24th session. Online http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000769/076995e.pdf. Accessed October 2010.
UNESCO. (1989). Guidelines on non-sexist language (Pour un langage non-sexist/Recomendaciones para el uso no sexista de la lengua).
UNESCO. (1991). Report on Unesco general conference 1991, 26th Session. Online http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000904/090448e.pdf. Accessed September, 2010.
UNESCO. (1993) Report on Unesco general conference 1993, 27th Session. Online http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000956/095621e.pdf. Accessed September 2010.
UNESCO. (1995). Report on Unesco general conference 1995, 28th Session. Online http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001018/101803e.pdf. Accessed September 2010.
UNESCO. (1999a). Guidelines on gender—neutral language. Online http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11489&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html. Accessed February 2011.
UNESCO. (1999b). Recomendaciones para un uso no sexista del lenguaje. Online http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001149/114950so.pdf. Accessed February 2011.
UNESCO. (2005a). Rules of procedure of the executive board, Online http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001390/139080e.pdf. UNESCO. Accessed February 2011.
UNESCO. (2005b). Reglamento del Consejo Ejecutivo, Online http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001390/139080s.pdf. Accessed February 2011.
United Nations. (1945). Charter of the United Nations. Online http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter. Accessed October 2010.
United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of human rights, Online http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml. Accessed October 2010.
University of Salford. (2000). Use of gender-free language. Salford: University of Salford.
Whorf, B. (1956). Language, thought and reality. Boston: MIT Press.
Williams, C. (2008). The end of the masculine rule?: Gender-neutral drafting in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Statute Law Review, 29(3), 139–153.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Teso, E., Crolley, L. Gender-based linguistic reform in international organisations. Lang Policy 12, 139–158 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10993-012-9241-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10993-012-9241-z