The Swedish neutral model

We have learned to parse our environment in a binary way, especially discerning boys and girls. The percentage of intersex people is forgotten but most people are not aware of this reality. Thus, the idea of non-binarity is starting to enter the public discussion but it comes with a lot of misunderstanding and clashes. It seems impossible to see the world without this separation of the sexes. Yet one country has already done so: Sweden.

The country open to non-binarity

Since 1960, the Swedish language has incorporated the neuter pronoun "hen" in addition to the masculine (han) and feminine (hon). However, it wasn't until 1998 that the Swedish government became more open to non-binarity in child rearing and acceptance of "hen."

So, today, Swedish families who are altersexual or simply don't want to force their children to adopt a gender can live rather freely. This report from Vice (with English and Spanish subtitles) actually shows how this is done on a daily basis.

Kindergartens and schools develop a safe environment and everyone feels free to be whatever they want. This approach does not so much remove the distinction, however it does remove the stereotypes. Boys and girls can play what they want rather than being constrained by preconceived notions. In addition, public bodies allow adults to indicate on official papers what they are called, among other things. This type of policy has begun to be adopted in Australia and somewhat in Canada. Norway, meanwhile, plans to incorporate a gender-neutral pronoun into dictionaries as early as the fall of 2022.

Acceptance still to come

However, it shouldn't be assumed that Sweden is entirely a non-binarity paradise. Vice's report makes it clear that the general population may still have some judgments about altersexual people and families. The use of "hen" is not necessarily widespread in everyday life. Even Swedish teachers have not all incorporated this respect for non-binary students. In fact, in the winter of 2022,the school ombudsman fined a school whose teacher refused to use the gender-neutral pronoun for an entire school year. So there is still some way to go in the acceptance of these people.

We only need to see the outcry over the inclusion of the pronoun "iel" in the Petit Robert to understand the work of understanding that needs to be done. We could argue that there are neutral pronouns in several languages, including German. Why not French? To which some specialists remain unmoved arguing that French does not have the same grammar. Yet there are already neutral pronouns with "that" and "it", among others. So does "on," although it is more associated with the first person plural "we."

The issue of neutrality will not stop being talked about anytime soon. However, it seems that little by little society is taking an interest in it in order to get rid of binarity in part. Toy manufacturers will adopt the term "kids" or "children" rather than specifying a gender for a toy house or small car. Clothing brands, too, have been offering unisex clothing for some time.

For essayist Lila Braunschweig, the issue of neutrality is not about forcing people to choose a new identity. Rather, it is a movement to no longer feel constrained to behave according to the gender designated at birth. Ideas, by the way, that are not so recent since Roland Barthes was already talking about gender neutrality in the 1970s.

Photo credit: en.depositphotos.com

References:

Daniels, Jordan. "Werk, 'hen'-ny: Norway May Add a Gender-neutral Pronoun." Xtra Magazine. Last updated: February 8, 2022. https://xtramagazine.com/power/identity/norway-gender-neutral-pronoun-hen-217669.

Faerber, Johan. "Lila Braunschweig: "Neutral Does Not Propose A New Identity But Invites One To Get Rid Of The Need To Fix A Gender Identity." DIACRITIK. Last updated November 21, 2021. https://diacritik.com/2021/11/22/lila-braunschweig-le-neutre-ne-propose-pas-une-nouvelle-identite-mais-invite-a-se-defaire-du-besoin-de-fixer-une-identite-de-genre/.

"Iel, He Or She? A False Problem Of Society." Media60. Last updated November 19, 2021. https://media60.net/2021/11/18/iel-il-elle/.

Koyfman, Steph. "Can The French Language Adapt To Gender-Neutral Pronouns?" Babbel Magazine. Last updated December 15, 2021. https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/french-gender-neutral-pronoun-iel.

Lindell, Henrik. "Polémique Autour De L'usage Du "Iel" : En Suède, Le Pronom Neutre Peignant à S'imposer Dans La Vie Quotidienne." La Vie.fr. Last updated: November 30, 2021. https://www.lavie.fr/actualite/societe/polemique-autour-de-lusage-du-iel-en-suede-le-pronom-neutre-peine-a-simposer-dans-la-vie-quotidienne-79378.php.

Strzyżyńska, Weronika. "New Gender-neutral Pronoun Likely to Enter Norwegian Dictionaries." The Guardian. Last updated February 2, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/02/new-gender-neutral-pronoun-norwegian-dictionaries-hen-official-language.

"Swedish ombudsman slams school after teacher refuses to use student's gender-neutral pronoun." The Local se. Last updated February 11, 2022. https://www.thelocal.se/20220211/student-wins-discrimination-case-over-swedens-gender-neutral-pronoun/.

Williams, Demetrius. "The Rise of Gender Neutrality and Its Impact on Language." Toppan Digital Language. Last updated October 12, 2018. https://toppandigital.com/us/blog-usa/rise-gender-neutrality-impact-language/.