Skip to main content
TU-Clausthal Equal Opportunity

Gender-sensitive language

Gender-sensitive language serves to make all genders visible and to avoid the formation of false associations. The equal linguistic treatment of genders is an important concern for Clausthal University of Technology. For this reason, we have included the development of a recommendation for gender-sensitive language at Clausthal University of Technology as a measure in the diversity audit.

The Accessibility Working Group took on this task and prepared a draft statement on gender-sensitive language in speech and writing at its meetings between March and September 2021. In November 2021, the draft statement on the use of gender-sensitive language at Clausthal University of Technology was presented at the fourth workshop as part of the diversity audit and discussed with the members of the Steering Committee. The comments and suggestions for improvement were taken into account during the revision.

The next step was to involve the relevant university committees. The statement was approved by the Senate Commission for Gender Equality on 12.11.2021 and adopted by the Executive Board on 12.01.2022 and by the Senate on 08.02.2022.

Key points of the statement on gender-sensitive language at TU Clausthal are

  • Avoidance of the generic masculine
  • Formulations that are as neutral or gender-independent as possible
  • At least use of the feminine and masculine form
  • Use of the colon as a gender marker when diverse gender identities are included

This statement does not apply to academic papers and examinations.

The complete statement on gender-sensitive language at TU Clausthal can be found here.