Updates on Topic A

Hello again Delegates!

I hope you all are doing well as we near the weekend of the conference. My fellow chairs and I have been working hard grading your papers and getting them back to you in a timely manner. We can’t wait to see what ideas you bring to the table! I recently read an article on the progress made in some European nations these past few months to work on inclusive, ungendered language, and I thought it’d be highly beneficial to share.

The The Guardian article discusses the debate surrounding gender-inclusive language reforms in languages like French, German, Spanish, and Italian. In France, efforts by l´academie to promote inclusive writing methods, such as using the median dot or hyphens to accommodate both masculine and feminine forms, have faced criticism for making the language less readable and excluding certain groups such as dyslexic individuals and non-native speakers. Despite resistance, some progress has been made, which includes allowing feminine titles for traditionally masculine roles. In Germany, the use of the gender star in generic forms has gained traction but also sparked backlash from conservative political parties. Spain's equality minister garnered attention for using gender-neutral language in her speech, which ignited further controversy between left and right factions. In Italy, the country's first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, stirred debate by preferring masculine titles, prompting criticism and accusations of reinforcing traditional gender roles. 

From this article, I hope it becomes apparent to everyone the effects of using inclusive language and the recent actions made by different gendered language speakers around the world. Reed’s writing sparks an interesting conversation on the progress in the use of less-gendered language and its impact, by emphasizing the ways these have been understood by different groups. I encourage you all to consider these consequences and comment below your country’s position and/or solutions regarding the dissolutions of gender in language.