Gender-sensitive language
The University of Vienna is committed to the use of gender-sensitive language.
The Affirmative Action Plan for the Advancement of Women and Equal Opportunities (in German) of the University of Vienna states (§ 2) that
- all institutions and members of staff (academic and non-academic) are to use discrimination-free and gender-sensitive language in all communications directed at members of the University or at the public.
- general statements like "women are included in masculine forms" are not acceptable.
- neither the University nor third parties are allowed to distribute materials on university grounds that don't comply with the principles of anti-discrimination and equality or that use discriminating stereotypes.
Common practice
What form of gender-sensitive language should be used is open at the University of Vienna. It is the basic principle of gender-sensitive language to mention the gender/genders that is/are meant. In some cases, it may also be appropriate to use gender-neutral terms (e.g. in German: Studierende or Lehrende) for reasons of simplicity.
It is not sufficient to merely point out at the beginning or at the end of a text that the masculine form is used but that the female form is also always intended.
Guidelines
For further information, the Gender Equality and Diversity unit recommends the following guidelines:
- "Leitfaden geschlechtergerechtes Formulieren und geschlechtersensibler Kommunikation"(in German)(Guideline on the Use of Gender-Sensitive Language and Gender-Sensitive Communication)(Academy of Fine Arts, 2019)
- "trans. inter*. nicht-binär. Lehr- und Lernräume an Hochschulen geschlechterreflektiert gestalten"(in German)(trans. inter*. non-binary. Gender-Consciously Organizing Teaching and Study Spaces)(Academy of Fine Arts, 2019)
- "Inter* und Trans* an der Hochschule. Informationen zum kompetenten Umgang mit Inter*- und Trans*studierenden für Entscheidungsträger*innen an Hochschulen"(in German)(Inter* and Trans* at University. Information on the Competent Treatment of Inter* and Trans* Students for Decision Makers at University)(AG trans*emanzipatorische Hochschulpolitik, 2018)
- "Positionspapier der österreichischen Hochschüler_innenschaft zum Umgang mit Geschlechtseintrag und Namen von inter* und trans Personen an Hochschulen"(in German)(Position Paper of the Austrian National Union of Students on the Treatment of Registered Name and Gender of Inter* and Trans* Persons at University)(Austrian National Union of Students, 2016)
- "Fair und inklusiv in Sprache und Bild. Leitfaden für die WU"(in German)(Fair and Inclusive in Language and Images. Guideline for the WU)(Vienna University of Economics and Business, 2015)
- "Geschlechtergerechter Sprachgebrauch. Empfehlungen und Tipps"(in German)(Use of Gender-Sensitive Language. Recommendations and Tips)(Federal Ministry of Education, 2014)
- "Leitfaden für geschlechtergerechtes Formulieren und eine diskriminierungsfreie Bildsprache"(in German)(Guideline on Gender-Sensitive Language and Non-Discriminatory Imagery)(City of Vienna, 2014)
Academic Degrees
According to section 88 of the 2002 Universities Act (in German), academic degree certificates use the respective masculine or feminine written form of the academic degree. This does, however, not apply to the abbreviated forms of academic degrees: the degrees may be used with a gender-specific addition, but may not be stated on the degree certificate in this form.
Examples: Award of academic degrees in their feminine form
- Magistra der Philosophie, (usage: Mag.a phil.)
- Doktorin der Rechtswissenschaften (usage: Dr.in iur.)
- Bakkalaurea, Bakk. (usage: Bakk.a)
For academic degrees in English language there are no gender-specific forms:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Pupils for gender-sensitive language
Gender-sensitive language doesn't start at university: A study at the Freie Universität Berlin shows that gender-sensitive language influences employment goals of children. In that spirit, pupils from Hamburg made a music video on the topic of gender-sensitive language. You can read more about it here (German).