Danes propose gender-neutral dictionary

The organization that governs the Danish language is preparing to add gender-balanced words to the next edition of its dictionary, in a push for more equality through language that is playing out around the world.

The official Danish spelling dictionary, the Retskrivningsordbogen, will be revamped in 2024 in an effort to make the Danish language more gender-neutral and to tackle gender stereotypes, according to Danish media outlets.

Researchers from the Danish Language Council, a standards body that is part of Denmark’s Culture Ministry, have combed through its more than 1,000 pages to identify masculine words that have no feminine equivalent or work to rewrite outdated definitions.

Danish broadcaster DR reported that the researchers have proposed introducing a Danish term for “career man” to match the existing “career woman.”

“Finansmand,” which translates to “financier,” is one of several words ending in -mand, or “man,” that could get a feminine equivalent — “finanskvinde,” or female financier. According to the proposal, definitions of words that lean into stereotypes — such as using male pronouns to describe someone accused of manslaughter — would be rewritten in more gender-neutral ways.

The project has attracted more attention in Denmark than the council’s routine rule changes in that govern things like commas, Margrethe Heidemann Andersen, a senior researcher at the council and editor of the dictionary, told DR.

“It arouses stronger emotions when it has something to do with identity and gender,” she told the outlet.

Heidemann Andersen is one of three editors working on the new edition. Describing the process to DR, she said the group reviewed every word in the Retskrivningsordbogen ending in the Danish words for “woman,” “person” and “man.”