By Gunnar Schupelius
The Governing Mayor finds clear words, but that’s not enough. Gunnar Schupelius believes he must change regulations to end gendering in the administration.
The Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) spoke out very clearly against gendering.
In an interview with the BZ on Sunday, he said: “I have not yet signed a letter in gender language. It is important to me that the language used by the administration is understandable. Anyone can speak privately as they wish. But I would like to speak the German that I learned at school and that everyone understands.”
When asked, Wegner indicated that he only wanted to prevent gender spelling in correspondence with the Senate Chancellery. All other Senate administrations and district offices could do as they wished.
Wegner is right, of course, because the so-called “gender-equitable language” is a fantasy that was invented by the Greens and those around them and carried into the institutions. It is politically motivated and has no support from the population. In the surveys, up to 80 percent reject the asterisk and the gender-neutral formulations.
However, the Governing Mayor must be more specific in his announcement. Because there are regulations for civil servants and employees in Berlin that oblige them to use “gender-fair language”.
The “Common Rules of Procedure for the Berlin Administration” states (§ 2): “Equal linguistic treatment of women and men must be observed. This should be done primarily through gender-neutral personal designations (…).”
This does not mean the gender star or the colon. But very artificial formulations such as “readers” (instead of “readers”) or “drivers” (instead of “drivers”).
In a “Guideline for Gender-Equitable Language” from the Senate Department for Social Affairs, officials and employees are required to be “willing” to “say goodbye to old habits of speaking and thinking”.
There it is claimed “that the use of the masculine form in the language leads to the disadvantage of women, both symbolically and factually”. This is still controversial. The guide dates from 2012, when the CDU was involved in the government in the Senate under state chairman Frank Henkel.
Back to Kai Wegner: What exactly did he want to say? Does he only reject the way of writing and speaking with the asterisk and the pause or also the gender-neutral designations? He would also have to refuse, because he wants to “speak the German” that he “learned at school”. He learned to say “motorists” and not “motorists”.
But if he also rejects gender-neutral designations, then he must ensure that the “Guidelines for Gender-Equitable Language” and the “Common Rules of Procedure for the Berlin Administration” are changed. He has to win the SPD for that, it’s not easy.
Kai Wegner must now get down to business, otherwise his announcement about gender will remain a great disappointment and make him unbelievable.
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