An equality-minded preschool in Sweden is avoiding the use of gender-specific pronouns like he and she, and referring to the kids as friends, rather than girls and boys.

Is this linguistic egalitarianism, or radical language engineering? Does using gendered pronouns make you more sexist?

Linguist Daniel Midgley is looking out for the children on this week’s Talk the Talk.


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30: Swedish Pronouns and Gender

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Show notes

A good introductory article:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1014003–swedish-preschool-takes-aim-at-gender-stereotypes

Defamer is funny.
http://www.defamer.com.au/2011/06/swedish-preschool-bans-gender/

What are the most sexist countries? Find out in the Global Gender Gap report from 2010.
http://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2010

Some languages that don’t use gender.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-neutrality_in_genderless_languages

Why don’t you go learn some Simple Swedish?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpHniCEHY7I&feature=player_embedded