My newest blog: Inclusive language is a sign of embracing diversity!

Inclusive language is a sign of embracing diversity    

With language, poets and literati create invaluable artworks that have become an indispensable part of our cultural heritage. But language is not only a powerful tool full of poetry and magic – it also has the power to discriminate and exclude people. When it comes to communication, it doesn't matter how we mean something. What matters is what our counterpart understands. The generic masculine, which is often and popularly used in German-speaking countries for example, is a good illustration of this. In practice, this generalization excludes not only women, but all people who do not identify with one gender, and builds barriers. For diversity to be truly embraced – a goal that many companies have committed to – inclusive language is essential. It is a step on the way to a society in which everyone feels equally seen and accepted.

The effect that gender-neutral language has on our thinking and awareness is already evident in children: Girls are more likely to envision themselves pursuing a typically male career path if it is advertised in a gender-neutral way – in other words, if they see themselves reflected. In a society that is increasingly trying to become aware of its stereotypical role models and unconscious prejudices, inclusive language helps to break through discriminatory thought patterns and allow new images to emerge in our minds. 

Red Hat has therefore set itself the goal of using inclusive language in its communications, both internally and externally. Diversity is already part of our DNA. We have people working for us from different ethnic backgrounds and worldviews, with physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, young and old, with different sexual orientations, women, men and non-binary people. This gives rise to different perspectives and new angles that help us become better and stronger every day. In the future, we also want to reflect this diversity in our language and have established the "Inclusive Language" working group in our German-speaking communications team. In the run-up to the launch, the working group looked closely at the impact of language, analyzed studies and sought dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders in order to learn and reflect on our work to date. The result is guidelines for inclusive language and platforms for regular exchange. Further measures will follow.

A linguistic change is not easy, but it doesn't have to be perfect from the start either. Rather, it is a continuous learning process, the only way to break down entrenched thought patterns. Every community benefits from this, whether it is a company or not. For those who still need a powerful argument to rethink their choice of language – in a few years, Millennials as well as Generation Z will make up the majority of the workforce. These young people often have multicultural backgrounds and are vehemently demanding an inclusive society reflected in language. Or, to put it another way, they have a different sensitivity to the power of words. And let's not forget: Young people are the consumers of tomorrow. Studies show that a product is more likely to end up in the shopping cart if the advertising is perceived as diverse and inclusive.

We lose nothing by no longer using the generic masculine – on the contrary. We gain a lot, namely more respectful interaction with each other. Of course, inclusive language does not ensure that all disadvantages and real grievances will cease. The path to a company with genuine equal opportunities is a long process that usually requires targeted reforms. In this process, gender-equitable language is merely one – albeit important – building block of a more inclusive corporate culture in which everyone feels welcome.