Schools and authorities
“Gender ban” in force – Bavarian state government makes language regulations
Gender gaps, gender stars or colons are no longer desired in official documents in Bavaria
© Marijan Murat / DPA
In December, Prime Minister Söder announced steps against gender language in Bavaria for the first time. Now the state government has changed the relevant regulation. The head of the State Chancellery holds teachers responsible.
Gender gaps and the like are becoming taboo in Bavaria
“For us the clear message is: Language must be clear and understandable,” said State Chancellor Florian Herrmann (CSU). But the ban is also about “keeping the spaces of discourse open in a liberal society.” On the other hand, ideologically influenced language, for example when it comes to gender, has an exclusionary effect. In certain social milieus there are also many missionary users when using the language, which is not compatible with an open society.
According to the regulation, spellings using internal word symbols such as gender gap, gender star, colon or media point are expressly not permitted. “This applies regardless of any future decisions by the German Spelling Council on the question of the use of special characters,” the State Chancellery said.
In practice, however, local authorities do not have to adhere to the new requirements, as Herrmann also admitted. But he assumes that it will send a signal if the Free State takes this approach. He did not explain what consequences teachers face if they do not adhere to the regulations.
When asked, Herrmann explained that the ban was now set as standard. It remains to be seen whether a different regulation will be needed in five or ten years. There are ways to speak gender-appropriately even without special characters.
Teachers in Bavaria should adhere to regulations
“It is clear that teachers have to adhere to it,” emphasized Herrmann. In all official correspondence, including letters to parents, all internal communication and in lessons. This is a clear and consistent line “that we pursue with a sense of proportion”. It is particularly important to the state government that no one is disadvantaged if he or she forgoes gender-sensitive language.
The Council for German Spelling most recently did not recommend the use of special characters inside words in a decision of December 15, 2023 and pointed out that these are interventions in word formation, grammar and orthography that can impair the comprehensibility of texts.
The official regulation of spelling is also the basis for teaching in Bavarian schools. The Ministry of Culture therefore wants to inform schools about the more precise requirements for gender language. In addition, the specifications for learning materials should be adjusted.