Glossary

Ableism refers to the structural discrimination against people who are physically and/or mentally ill, whether temporarily or chronically, or people who are disabled. (1)

Agender is a term people may use to describe themselves if they have no gender, do not feel a sense of belonging to any gender, or cannot relate to the concept of gender at all. (1)

An ally is a person who is not themselves part of a marginalized group, such as the trans community, but who actively supports that group. (1)

Anti-genderism is directed against gender studies and the deconstructionist¹ understanding of gender associated with the concept of “gender.” (2)

Asexuality is a sexual orientation. A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others, whether permanently or temporarily, may identify as asexual. (1)

Something is considered accessible when people with and without disabilities are able to use it in the same way as is generally customary. (3)

The binary (Western) gender system assumes that there are only two genders—male and female. It does not allow for any other genders or identities in between. (1)

Bisexuality is a sexual orientation. People who feel sexually attracted to two or more genders may identify as bisexual. (1)

Cis is the counterpart to trans. The term is used to describe a person whose gender matches the one they were assigned at birth based on their genitalia. (1)

Coming out describes the process in which a person becomes aware of their own gender and/or their romantic or sexual orientation (inner coming out) and then begins to share this with others (outer coming out). (1)

A deadname is a discarded, former first name, usually the one given at birth. (1)

Any form of unjust disadvantage or unequal treatment is considered discrimination. In practice, this usually means that one person is treated worse than another. Denying someone rights they are entitled to is also discrimination. It often goes hand in hand with humiliation or insults. Discrimination can affect entire groups, and every individual within such a group may feel discriminated against. Discrimination often occurs through exclusion based on visible and unchangeable traits. Many people experience discrimination because of their gender, ethnicity, disability, or age, whether young or old. But people are also discriminated against for traits that are not outwardly visible: for example, their worldview or religion, their gender identity, or their sexual orientation, especially when these become apparent through expression, clothing, or behavior. Common forms of discrimination include sexism, racism, and ableism. (4)

Diverse is a legal gender category that has existed in Germany since 2018 and in Austria since 2019. It was created to provide intersex people with a gender entry that is neither male nor female. However, this category is also used by endosex trans and non-binary people. (1)

The term diversity comes from the Latin diversitas and means variety, difference, or multiplicity. In biology, biodiversity refers, for example, to the variety of plant or animal species in a given place. In social contexts, diversity describes the range of different traits or characteristics among people within a group or organization. At its core, the concept of diversity, taken from the English translation, emphasizes that every person is unique and valuable, and deserves appreciation and respect. (5)

Doing gender refers to the ongoing, everyday, and unavoidable process in which people interact, adapt, and negotiate within the binary gender system and heteronormativity—that is, the socially prescribed division of gender into male and female, along with the roles attached to them. (6)

There is no single “third gender,” but some people use this term to describe a gender identity that exists between male and female. (1)

The term emancipation comes from Latin and means something like “release into independence.” It describes the process of breaking free from dependency. This liberation can be experienced by individuals, but also by groups who are oppressed and kept from self-determination. In everyday language, “emancipation” is most often used in relation to women’s rights. (6)

The killing of women because of their gender, or because of certain ideas of femininity, is called femicide or feminicide. The term femicide was developed by Diana E. H. Russell, a feminist activist and sociologist. (7)

FLINTA is a German acronym used to indicate who is welcome in certain spaces or at specific events. It stands for women, lesbians, intersex people, non-binary people, trans people, and agender people. (1)

Many women who are very well educated encounter a glass ceiling in their professional careers. Leadership positions remain dominated by men. The gender quota is intended to ensure that women are preferred when qualifications are equal. The goal is the equal participation of women in society, politics, business, and culture. (8)

On a scientific level, gender refers to socially constructed aspects of sex. On an activist and personal level, it describes a person’s gender identity. (1)

Gender bias refers to systematic distortions that arise from gender-based stereotypes and prejudices. It is present not only in everyday communication and interaction, but also in science and research—for example, in research design and results, as well as in personnel and hiring decisions. (9)

Gender budgeting refers to the review of all budgetary decisions made by a public institution and their impact on women and men. It is a method for systematically analyzing and shaping budgets, as well as other decisions, measures, and programs. The gender-specific review is intended to ensure equal access to public funds for all genders. The ultimate goal is to promote and achieve gender equality. (10)

Income gap, pension gap, lifetime earnings gap, care work gap. In Germany, women and men do not in practice have the same opportunities to realize their potential. These gender gaps are closely interconnected and have serious effects on women’s lives. (11)

People who identify as gender nonconforming or gender variant have a gender identity that does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth, or they break away from social expectations of gender (for example, in behavior or clothing). Unlike being trans, this is more about a fundamental rejection of the binary social norm of gender. (1)

Gender mainstreaming is a political program and tool aimed at achieving equality between women and men. The core idea is that the (possible) effects of all political, social, and economic decisions must take into account the different living conditions of women and men. The goal is not only statistical equality, but above all the recognition of the different interests and life situations of women and men. (12)

Gender Studies is an academic field that examines the significance of gender in politics, culture, and society. Gender studies is interdisciplinary and investigates gender relations in depth. Its aim is to generate fundamental knowledge about privilege and discrimination based on gender. The field is concerned with differentiated understandings of gender and with developing gender competence. (13)

Genderfluid is a gender identity. People who identify as genderfluid experience their gender identity as shifting over time or in relation to specific situations. (1)

“Genderqueer ist ein Überbegriff für Menschen, die nicht in die geschlechterbinäre Norm passen. […]” (1)

In recent years, several German federal states have adopted changes to their general administrative regulations on language, publicly referred to as a “gender ban.” These changes apply only to official written communication in public authorities and state schools within the respective states. They stipulate that, in official correspondence and standard language, authorities must follow the official rules of German orthography. Gender-inclusive spellings using word-binding symbols such as the gender asterisk (*), colon (:), gender gap (_), or middle dot (·) are not permitted.

In typography, gender signs refer to typographic or orthographic symbols (special characters or punctuation marks) used in gender-inclusive language. They serve as placeholders in personal designations to represent male, female, and also non-binary or gender-diverse people—for example, Ingenieur:in (“engineer”). (15)

The generic masculine is a personal or occupational designation in the grammatically masculine form. The german language tends to categorize Nouns into masculine and feminine. Generic means that the word is intended to serve as a universal term: a group of people consisting of all genders is referred to in the masculine form. (16)

Sex is often determined by looking at a person’s body, especially their genitals. However, sex, also referred to as biological sex or physical sex, is a complex social category as well. (1)

Gender norms are ideas about how women and men should be and act. Internalized early in life, gender norms can establish a lifelong cycle of gender socialization and stereotyping. (17)

A gender role is a set of expectations placed on people of a particular gender. These expectations may concern behavior, clothing, professions, traits, hobbies, and more. (1)

Gender stereotypes are societal attributions of specific traits, characteristics, behaviors, abilities, and appearances to a particular gender. (1)

Gender expression refers to the way every person presents themselves to others—through clothing, hairstyle, gestures, behavior, career choices, hobbies, social circles, and many other aspects. This expression may appear more “feminine,” “masculine,” or “neutral.” Importantly, gender expression is not the same as a person’s gender identity. (18)

A person’s gender identity refers to the gender or genders with which they identify themselves. Gender identity does not have to correspond to the sex that was assigned to them at birth. (1)

Gender equality describes a situation in which all people can freely develop their personal abilities and make independent choices without being restricted by rigid gender-specific roles. It means that the different behaviors, goals, and needs of women and men are equally considered, recognized, and supported. Gender equality also requires the absence of any direct or indirect discrimination based on sex or gender. (6)

Gender-sensitive language is increasingly used in written texts, whether through double naming, neutral formulations, or special characters. In spoken language, the so-called glottal stop is also becoming more common. A short pause followed by a closure of the vocal cords, which makes symbols such as the gender asterisk audible. To illustrate: in German the glottal stop is pronounced like the pause in the words theater (“The-ater”) or fried egg (“Spiegel-ei”).

Heteronormativity is a social norm. It assumes that every person belongs to only one of two genders (male or female) and that this gender can be determined at birth by looking at the genitals. It also presumes that these genders are fundamentally different from one another and that they are sexually and romantically oriented toward each other. In addition, there is the expectation that all people are, or should be, in monogamous romantic and sexual relationships. (1)

Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation. Heterosexual people are sexually attracted to individuals of the other gender. (1)

Homosexuality is a sexual orientation. People who identify as homosexual are attracted to individuals of their own or a similar gender. Homosexual men often describe themselves as gay, while homosexual women often describe themselves as lesbian. (1)

Inclusion means enabling all people to participate equally in social life. Everyone naturally belongs, and everyone can take part. (20)

Also referred to as inter\*, or (in outdated usage) intersexuality. Intersex people are individuals whose physical sex characteristics (for example, genitals or chromosomes) cannot be clearly classified according to the medical norm of “strictly” male or female bodies, but instead exist on a spectrum in between. (1)

Intersectionality means that different social structures, such as gender, sexuality, origin, culture, religion, and social status, are interconnected. This also means that different forms of discrimination, such as racism, queerphobia, and ableism, are linked and must be considered together. For example, women who wear a headscarf may experience a specific, intertwined form of racism, Islamophobia, and sexism. (1)

Lesbian describes a sexual and/or romantic orientation. The term generally refers to queer attraction to women and to femininity. (1)

LGBTQIA is an abbreviation of the English words Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual. It is therefore used as a collective term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people. (21)

Mental load refers to the constant need to think of everything that has to be remembered and organized. Literally, it is “the burden in the head.” It primarily affects women, who, alongside their own professional work, often take care of the household and, from the birth of a child, provide childcare. This taken-for-granted responsibility of “caring” creates an invisible stress that can ultimately lead to burnout. (22)

Misgendering means assigning a person to the wrong gender and/or referring to them with the wrong pronoun or gendered terms (such as “Mister/Misses”). This can sometimes happen unintentionally. (1)

Misogyny roughly means “hatred of women” or “hostility toward women.” In a patriarchal system, misogyny describes the devaluation of and hatred toward women and femininity. (1)

Multigender is a gender identity. People who identify as multigender experience more than one gender. These gender identities may be present simultaneously or may alternate over time. (1)

Monogamy means “single marriage” and describes a relationship in which a person is married to, or in a partnership with, only one other person at a time. (1)

Also: non-binary, non binary. Nonbinary is a gender. People who are not (or not 100%) male or female can describe themselves as nonbinary. Instead, their gender is, for example, both at the same time, between male and female, or neither male nor female. Some nonbinary people place themselves completely outside the binary system, some have no gender at all (agender) or have a gender identity that changes repeatedly (genderfluid).(1)

The objectification of women and FLINTA refers to the process by which they are reduced to their physical traits, especially their sexuality and appearance, rather than being seen as full individuals with their own thoughts, feelings, and identities. (23)

Pansexuality is a sexual orientation. People who identify as pansexual experience sexual attraction to individuals of all genders, or their sexual attraction is not determined by the gender of the other person(s). […] (1)

Patriarchy (from the Latin ‘rule of fathers’) describes a social system in which men hold positions of power and shape or control social relationships, values, norms, and expectations for everyone. […] (1)

Policing refers to the enforcement of certain norms and (social) expectations, especially for individuals who deviate from them—such as norms related to gender or sexual and romantic orientation. Policing operates through mechanisms like stigmatization, devaluation, and discrimination. It serves to uphold societal norms, such as the gender binary. (1)

‘Politically correct’ language is considered desirable when speakers critically reflect on current usage based on certain norms. Taking into account societal conditions and historical contexts, individual words, expressions, or ways of thinking can be deemed inappropriate and, if necessary, replaced with alternatives. The goal is to use language that fosters respectful interaction without discrimination. (24)

Also: polyam, poly. Polyamory describes a way of loving and forming relationships. People who identify as polyamorous may experience romantic attraction to more than one person at a time and/or engage in romantic, queerplatonic, and/or sexual relationships with multiple people simultaneously. (1)

Polygamy means ‘multiple marriage’ and refers to a form of marriage in which more than two people are married. It typically involves one person having multiple spouses, rather than a group of people all marrying each other. (1)

Polygender describes people who embody multiple gender identities. This gender diversity within one person can include male, female, intersex, or other genders. These identities may be experienced simultaneously or at different times, alternately, by the individual. (25)

Pronouns are words (like ‘they,’ ‘he,’ and ‘she’) that replace nouns or names to simplify sentences and avoid repetition. In queer and feminist contexts, ‘pronouns’ often specifically refer to third-person singular pronouns. In German, gendered pronouns are used for people (especially ‘er’ and ‘sie’), but there are now also proposals for gender-neutral pronouns, known as neopronouns, which include options like ‘dey’ or ‚xier.’ (1)

Queer can be used both as an individual label and as an umbrella term for other identities or for the queer community as a whole. Additionally, Queer Studies is an academic field of study (1)

Queerphobia is the discrimination against queer people. It can manifest as rejection, anger, intolerance, prejudice, discomfort, or physical and psychological violence. However, queerphobia can also affect non-queer people who are perceived as queer or who (seemingly) deviate from societal rules and norms regarding sexuality and gender. (1)

Gay describes a sexual and/or romantic orientation. The term generally refers to queer attraction to men and masculinity. (1)

Sexism refers to all forms of discrimination based on gender. In our society, sexism is generally directed against those perceived as non-male, and especially against women or traits associated with femininity. (1)

 A person’s sexual orientation describes the gender or genders to which they feel emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted. (1)

The act of caring for and looking after others is known as care work. It is usually unpaid and is most often performed by women. Within families, men rarely take on these responsibilities, and often only partially. This disparity is measured by the gender care gap (26)

TINA stands for trans* people, inter* people, non-binary* people, and agender* people. The term generally encompasses all identity groups that are not binary cisgender. That is, people who are neither cis men nor cis women. (27)

Trans People: People whose gender does not align with the one assigned to them at birth are considered trans. Trans people can be either binary (male or female) or non-binary. The opposite of trans is cis. (1)

Transphobia refers to the discrimination against trans people. It can manifest as rejection, anger, intolerance, prejudice, discomfort, or physical and psychological violence directed at trans individuals. Transphobia can also affect people who are not trans but are perceived as such. (1)

Transgender is a gender modality. People who identify as transgender are those whose gender does not align with the one assigned to them at birth (1)

Transition refers to the process in which a trans person makes social, physical, and/or legal changes to express their gender. (1)

Transvestite is a term used by people who, for various reasons, dress in clothing traditionally associated with a gender different from their own. This concept is based on conventional societal ideas of gendered clothing. Transvestites are not the same as trans people. (1)

The theory of undoing gender challenges the pervasive way gender is commonly perceived. While a person’s gender may be noticed, it plays only a minor role in interaction in many situations, according to the theory developed by sociologist Stefan Hirschauer. Undoing gender opens up greater scope for individual agency and self-determination. (28)

Assigned gender describes the gender marker entered on a child’s birth certificate, which is assigned at birth based on the child’s genitalia. (1)

(1) Queeres Glossar von Queer Lexikon e.V., https://queer-lexikon.net veröffentlicht unter CC-BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.de – und unverändert veröffentlichen.

(2) https://www.gender-nrw.de/antigenderismus/

(3) https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/lexika/lexikon-in-einfacher-sprache/263423/barrierefreiheit/

(4) https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar/diskriminierung

(5) https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar/diversitaet

(6) https://www.bgf.ovgu.de/Glossar-p-10758.html#D

(7) https://www.frauen-gegen-gewalt.de/de/infothek/toetung-von-frauen-femizid/merkmale-und-tatsachen.html

(8) https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar/frauenquote

(9) https://www.gesis.org/cews/daten-und-informationen/forschungsfelder/gender-bias?trk=public_post_comment-text&cHash=645be0fa4ab932c27aed411f34364243

(10) https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar/gender-budgeting

(11) https://unwomen.de/gender-gaps-in-deutschland/

(12) https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/lexika/politiklexikon/17522/gender-mainstreaming/

(13) https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar/gender-studies

(14) https://www.typolexikon.de/genderzeichen/

(15) https://www.genderleicht.de/generisches-maskulinum/

(16) https://eige.europa.eu/publications-resources/thesaurus/terms/1288?language_content_entity=de

(17) https://dgti.org/2021/09/16/geschlechtsausdruck/

(18) https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar/inklusion

(19) https://pinkstinks.de/glossar/

(20) https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar/mental-load

(22) https://www.paula-panke.de/queerfeministischer-wortschatz-objektifizierung/

(23) https://www.bpb.de/themen/parteien/sprache-und-politik/42730/political-correctness-politische-korrektheit/

(24) https://www.bpb.de/themen/gender-diversitaet/geschlechtliche-vielfalt-trans/500946/polygender/

(25) https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar/care-arbeit

(26) https://lgbt.fandom.com/de/wiki/TINA*

(27) https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar/undoing-gender