Language and images not only trace social realities, but also significantly shape them by influencing our perception, our thinking and our actions. Language is not fixed once and for all, but keeps pace with social changes and also helps to bring them about. How we speak, write and depict is important for shaping equitable gender relations. Gender-equitable language use is easy to learn. It is a question of awareness and habit.
The University of Bern wants to promote gender equality in a comprehensive sense and sees linguistic equality as a matter of course. The University of Bern does not prescribe any standardised language rules that are binding for all university employees. However, the exclusive use of masculine personal terms does not meet the quality standards at the University of Bern.
The following guide (in German) gives an overview over the most important aspects of gender sensitive language and wording:
