The Invisible Majority
Snapshot: In Germany, the highly-gendered nature of the German language makes use of gender-inclusive language challenging, even though such language can help create inclusive schools for female, nonbinary, and transgender students. In this brief-case, a secondary school in Saxony must decide whether to run a workshop for students on using gender-inclusive language despite community concerns and a government decree that such language is grammatically incorrect and should not be taught in schools.
Case Description
Like many countries across the globe, Germany is experiencing democratic backsliding as anti-democratic, right-wing parties gain power in regional and national government. As a result, many social issues have become part of a “culture war” in the country, including the question of how gender sensitivity should be implemented and taught in the education sector and in educational processes. Because German is a highly-gendered language, these questions about gender sensitivity have led to further questions about how the German language should be used and taught in schools.
This fictional case takes place at a school in Saxony, a federal state in East Germany. In 2025, the Saxon government issued a directive prohibiting teachers’ use of gender-sensitive expressions and mandating that gender-neutral expressions be treated as spelling errors. However, many educators and students appreciate gender-neutral expressions as more inclusive of nonbinary, transgender, and even female students. Moreover, the directive seemingly contradicts the central educational goal of non-discriminatory coexistence outlined in the Saxon School Act.
The educators in this case grapple with these complexities and contradictions as they determine whether to run an upcoming student workshop on gender-inclusive language. While the workshop was scheduled in response to student requests, not all students are supportive—and neither are all teachers. Plus, there has been community concern that by holding the workshop, the school is addressing “gender ideology” that would be better taught at home. How can the school help all students feel supported and included while taking into account so many competing perspectives?
Explore Further
- The official use of gender-inclusive language in schools in Saxony has been banned since 2023 (redirect). The issue is also part of the national debate in the country (redirect).
- Germany isn’t the only country grappling with the complexities of gender-inclusive language. This article explores how citizens of countries around the world are thinking about—and in some places rethinking—gendered language (redirect).
- In the case, teachers raise concerns about being targeted by right-wing political groups if they promote gender-inclusive language. This news report details a real-life example of teachers being harassed after they spoke out against the influence of far-right parties on young people (redirect).