Language is - and always has been - in motion. It is an expression of social developments and to a large extent represents our reality.
Our concern is to use language as non-violent, inclusive and critical of discrimination as possible.
At BOKU, the asterisk has become established in recent years as a form of gender-conscious writing. The term professor, for example, shows both the masculine and the feminine form. The star (also: asterisk) draws attention to the constructedness of gender and creates a space that makes diverse gender identities inclusive and conceivable.
Language is more inclusive when it takes into account, names, and makes visible as many perspectives, realities of life, groups of people, and worlds of experience as possible. Thus, it is always better to make precise enumerations instead of including everyone* with a single term. The use of discriminatory terms should always be avoided.
Content is more inclusive when documents are designed with fewer barriers, making them more accessible to people who use assistive technologies, for example.
