Geschlechtergerechte Formulierungen in Nachrichtentexten

Abstract

Zusammenfassung: Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird vergleichend analysiert, wie gut generisch maskuline Personenbezeichnungen (z. B. die studenten) und alternative geschlechtergerechte formen (z. B. die studentinnen und studenten) für Nachrichtentexte geeignet sind. Dabei ist von Interesse, ob die Verwendung der jeweiligen formen zu einem angemessenen gedanklichen Einbezug der am berichteten Ereignis beteiligten frauen führt, ob der text gut lesbar bleibt und ob das Publikum die textästhetik positiv beurteilt. Die Befunde zweier experimenteller studien deuten darauf hin, dass der Einsatz bestimmter geschlechtergerechter Personenbezeichnungen im Vergleich zur Verwendung generisch maskuliner formulierungen zu einer angemesseneren gedanklichen Berücksichtigung von frauen beiträgt, ohne dabei die Lesbarkeit und sprachliche Ästhetik zu beeinträchtigen. Die Ergebnisse werden im Hinblick auf Möglichkeiten des Einsatzes geschlechtergerechter sprache in Pressemedien diskutiert.Schlüsselwörter: Geschlechtergerechte sprache · situationsmodelle · Lesbarkeit · textästhetik · Rezeption · Medienwirkung · Experiment Gender-equitable references in news storiesAbstract: the article compares the suitability of generic masculine references (e.g. die studenten) and gender-equitable references (e.g. die studentinnen und studenten) to address mixed gender groups in news texts. suitability is evaluated on three dimensions. It is analyzed whether or not the different forms warrant a) appropriate perceptions of the part of women involved in a group that is described in a text, b) text readability and c) the text`s aesthetic quality. Results of two experimental studies imply that in comparison to generic masculine word forms, the use of certain gender-equitable references leads to a more adequate consideration of women without compromising the text's readability or its aesthetic qualities. Results are discussed with regard to possibilities of implementing gender-equitable language in print media.

Now you see me, now you don’t: applying automated content analysis to track migrant women’s salience in German news

“…If we assume that the use of the generic masculine incorporates a reference to both migrant women and migrant men, then our results would show that migrant women are actually as visible as migrant men. However, we take the position, again supported by media effects research (Blake and Klimmt 2010), that with the use of the generic masculine form (male word endings), migrant women are always less visible than migrant men.…”

Can Gender-Fair Language Reduce Gender Stereotyping and Discrimination?

“…Empirical investigations have refuted this argument and have shown that text quality ( Rothmund and Christmann, 2002 ) and cognitive processing were not damaged ( Braun et al, 2007 ). When GFL texts were compared to (generic) masculine texts, there were no differences in readability and esthetic appeal ( Blake and Klimmt, 2010 ). In all, the empirical evidence does not confirm the alleged disadvantage of GFL.…”

Actual and Potential Gender-Fair Language Use

“…The next most convincing argument was that gender-fair forms are too clumsy. Research comparing German texts written with either gender-fair or GM forms in terms of readability, aesthetics, and intelligibility revealed inconclusive results: Texts with GM were either evaluated as more intelligible (Klimmt, Pompetzki, & Blake, 2008), or no differences were found regarding readability and esthetical appeal (Blake & Klimmt, 2010). Other results were that only male participants evaluated texts with GM to be more intelligible, whereas female participants evaluated both equally (Braun, Oelkers, Rogalski, Bosak, & Sczesny, 2007).…”