Gender Mainstreaming at ASH Berlin
Gender mainstreaming describes a strategy in which the different life situations and interests of men* and women* are systematically taken into account in all plans.
On 11.02.2003 the Academic Senate passed a resolution to implement gender mainstreaming as a project of the university.
Ziel des Gender Mainstreamings an der ASH Berlin ist es, gleiche Chancen für Frauen* und Männer*n in allen Lebensbereichen herzustellen. Kennzeichen dieser Gleichstellungspolitik ist es, bei allen Maßnahmen die ganze Vielfalt von Frauen*- und Männer*leben, wie sie sich heute in Deutschland darstellt, zu betrachten. Es geht um gleiche Chancen von Frauen* und Männer*n mit und ohne Kinder, in allen Altersstufen und Lebensphasen ebenso wie in besonderen Lebenssituationen.
Gender-neutral language
Our language mirrors the way in which we all live together. How we study, work, teach or research, what we think is important and what we overlook – all of this expressed in language. Language is a finely tuned instrument that fulfils our need for communication and understanding. It is also an instrument for exercising power and exclusion. However, the language that is written and spoken at a university must be a language of democracy and equality.
That is why there are various rules in place at ASH Berlin prescribing gender-sensitive language. However, these rules are inconsistent and partly contradictory. The reason for this is that the decisions were made at different points in time. The Equal Opportunities Officers for Women* are striving to create uniform gender-neutral language rules as part of the new charter. Until that has been achieved, the currently applicable decisions regarding gender-neutral language at ASH Berlin can be found here.
Gender-sensitive certificates and official notices
On 16.07.2013 the Academic Senate of ASH Berlin decided that all certificates and official notices should be issued in a gender-sensitive form in future. Prior to this, all official notices and certificates of the university were issued with “Frau” (Miss/Mrs) or “Herr” (Mr). However, there are people who are neither one nor the other or feel constricted by these two gender categories. These people were discriminated against by the form of address used in previous certificates and official notices. The new rule has been in force since 01.10.2013. A list of suggested alternative phrasing for certificates and official notices at ASH Berlin can be found here.
Express mention of women*
In accordance with section 6 of the Guidelines on the Promotion of Women (Frauenförderrichtlinien) all forms, documents, guidelines, identity cards etc. of ASH Berlin should be formulated so that women* are expressly mentioned.
Female form for Articles, regulations and guidelines
On 24.01.2017 a resolution was passed by the Academic Senate of ASH Berlin to use the so-called statistical gender gap in German (e.g. the word “Mitarbeiter_innen” to indicate both male and female employees) in all new Articles and regulations of ASH Berlin. In addition, it was decided that the so-called gender asterisk (*) should be appended to terms such as women, men, female, male etc. in the typography (e.g. women*).
Advice and Recommendations for Gender-neutral Language
These recommendations provide orientation for all members of ASH Berlin, i.e. students, teaching staff and employees. If you have any further suggestions or questions about netural phrasing or would like to order the “Advice and Recommendations” to hand out in a seminar, please contact the Equal Opportunities Officers for Women of ASH Berlin.
Gender-neutral language
On 24.01.2017 a resolution was passed by the Academic Senate of ASH Berlin to use the so-called statistical gender gap in German (e.g. the word “Mitarbeiter_innen” to indicate both male and female employees) in all new Articles and regulations of ASH Berlin. In addition, it was decided that the so-called gender asterisk (*) should be appended to terms such as women, men, female, male etc. in the typography (e.g. women*).
*The gender asterisk (*) indicates the constructed character of "gender". The asterisk after the word "women" emphasises that this refers to all persons who define themselves with the term "woman", are defined as such and/or see themselves as being viewed this way. In light of how people who cannot or do not wish to identify with the conventional two genders are disadvantaged and discriminated against, the team of Equal Opportunities Officers for Women also feel a clear sense of responsibility towards trans*, inter* and non-binary people. We are aware that categorising gender diversity with the term “women*” perpetuates the discriminatory pattern and therefore this cannot be seen as a solution but as a process.