Gender star
The gender asterisk (*) after "women" has so far served as a reference to the constructional character of gender. However, this process of visualization, which was intended to represent gender beyond a binary system, also has an exclusionary effect in the formulation chosen here. We continue to use the (*) as the self-designation of the Women's* Representative and as the Women's* Office in the title in order to make visible that we are approachable for more people than "just" women.
The full explanation of this can be found here: <a href="https://www.ash-berlin.eu/fileadmin/Daten/Einrichtungen/Frauenbeauftragte/Downloads/Die_Crux_mit_dem_Sternchen.pdf>The Crux with the Asterisk</a>.
As a rule, the gender asterisk (*) is not pronounced.
Note: the gender asterisk can also be used in a different way, and in the same way as the underscore ('students*innen')
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Gender-sensitive certificates and notifications
There have been previous resolutions supporting the embedding of gender-responsive language at ASH Berlin. For example:
-Gender-sensitive certificates and notices (resolution of the Academic Senate 16.07.2013). Previously, notices and certificates from the university were issued with the salutation "Ms." or "Mr.", for example. However, there are people who are neither or feel constrained by these gender ascriptions. Using a phrase like "Good afternoon Eren Schmidt" can make everyone feel addressed.
- Explicitly mention women*(Women's Promotion Guideline 1996 §6) Forms, documents, guidelines, ID cards, etc. of ASH Berlin must be formulated in such a way that they explicitly mention women*.
ASH Resolutions
On 24.01.2017, the Academic Senate of ASH Berlin decided to use the gender gap and the gender asterisk (*) in all new statutes and regulations.
*The gender asterisk (*) serves as a reference to the constructional nature of "gender". The asterisk after "women" is intended to clarify that it refers to all persons who define themselves, are defined, and/or see themselves made visible under the designation "woman." With regard to disadvantage and sexist discrimination against people who cannot or do not want to locate themselves in the norm of bisexuality, the team of women* representatives at ASH Berlin also sees their responsibility here towards trans*, inter* and non-binary people. In doing so, we are aware that already the classification of gender diversity under the term "women*" is a repetition of discriminatory violence and thus cannot be understood as a solution, but only as a process.
More resources
- https://meinnamemeinpronomen.wordpress.com Brochure with short introductory texts on gender and language around trans*_genderqueer, among other topics.
- www.genderdiversitylehre.fu-berlin.de/toolbox/starterkit Gender- and diversity-conscious language and images in teaching
- http://feministisch-sprachhandeln.org Suggestions for anti-discriminatory language action
- https://gb.uni-koeln.de/gendersensible_sprache Guide to gender-sensitive and inclusive language
- www.uni-due.de/genderportal Portal with resources on many gender-related topics, including language
- www.tu-berlin.de/fileadmin/i31/Publikationen/Weitere/KFG-Sprachleitfaden.pdf Language guide of the Technical University of Berlin
- https://feministisch-sprachhandeln.org/ Language Guide of the AG feministisch Sprachhandeln of the Humbolt University of Berlin
- https://www.gendern.de/ The largest dictionary for gender-appropriate language
Language Guide of the AG Feministisch Sprachhandeln of the Humboldt University of Berlin
Language guide "What to do? Language action - but how? W_locations instead of inaction".
