Inclusive Language: A Cross-Lingual Comparison of the Choice between Gender-Explicitation and Gender-Neutralization Strategies
Ellen Decoo

Abstract
To reduce or avoid gender bias in language, two main strategies are being used: (1) gender explicitation attempts to make any gender-related identity visible as a token of recognition; (2) gender neutralization eschews any reference to gender as a veiled affirmation of unconditional equity. Both strategies aim at inclusiveness. A comparison of the ways both approaches are implemented in four languages—Dutch, English, French, and German—reveals how the unique gendered profile of each language is favoring the one or the other approach, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. This cross-lingual comparison extends to other questions, taking into account the gendered profile of each language: To what extent do the various strategies succeed in the intended recognition of gender-diverse identities? How do lingual changes affect broader sociocultural polarizations within each language realm?

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