Words of change: the increase of gender-inclusive language in German media
Open accessAbstract
Everyday observations seem to indicate an increase in gender-inclusive language (GIL) in Germany; however, previous research on the prevalence of GIL suggests that it is a marginal phenomenon. Moreover, from a theoretical side, an increase in GIL seems unlikely because of the cognitive challenge language change holds, the existence of multiple GIL variants, and the antagonistic environment that Germany poses for language change. This study empirically measures the use of GIL in five media sources in Germany. Over four million articles from 2000 to 2021 are analysed using the IDS Deutscher Referenzkorpus (DeReKo), supplemented by an in-depth analysis of 500 newspaper articles scraped in 2021. A fine-grained analysis along the dimensions of political orientation of the outlet, type of GIL, and author’s gender is conducted. In addition to observing an unexpectedly rapid increase in GIL, two different trends are identified: whilst non-binary inclusive forms of GIL are increasingly used in the left-leaning newspaper, GIL that adheres to a binary notion of gender is favoured in the mainstream and right-leaning media. This sheds light on how difficult behavioural change can occur.
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In Waldendorf (2024), the shift toward more frequent gender-inclusive language in national German newspapers is attributable to evolving social norms as reflected in editorial guidelines.
“this shift is attributable to evolving social norms as reflected in editorial guidelines.”
From What affects people’s use of and attitudes toward gender-inclusive language? A literature review (2025) · cites this paper as Waldendorf (2024)
The Behaviour and newspapers section treats newspapers as reflecting wider social change, and the Discussion notes that trends in reader letters suggest change beyond journalists. But the Discussion does not establish that evolving social norms caused the shift or that editorial guidelines reliably reflect it: some editorial positions appeared after usage had increased, and the paper finds no clear link between editorial change and GIL use. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn Waldendorf (2024), gender-inclusive language is now used far more frequently in national German newspapers across the political spectrum than in the past.
“In a diachronic study of newspaper articles, Waldendorf (2024) showed that gender-inclusive language is now used far more frequently in national German newspapers across the political spectrum than in the past; this shift is attributable to evolving social norms as reflected in editorial guidelines.”
From What affects people’s use of and attitudes toward gender-inclusive language? A literature review (2025) · cites this paper as Waldendorf (2024)
In Waldendorf (2024), left-leaning media showed a higher increase and used more non-binary inclusive forms.
“Left-leaning media showed a higher increase and used more non-binary inclusive forms (e.g., Forscher*innen, researchersmasc*fem).”
From What affects people’s use of and attitudes toward gender-inclusive language? A literature review (2025) · cites this paper as Waldendorf (2024)
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Link, S. (2024) · Lingua · doi:10.1016/j.lingua.2024.103787 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
What affects people’s use of and attitudes toward gender-inclusive language? A literature review
Lange, E., & von Stockhausen, L. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1657753 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
- Authors
- Waldendorf, A.
- Affiliations
- European University Institute (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Waldendorf, Anica
- ORCID
- Waldendorf, Anica
- Venue
- European Sociological Review
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2023-09-16
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 357-374
- ISSN
- 0266-7215 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-2672
- OpenAlex
- W4386815431
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 15.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- European Sociological Review (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Cadmus - EUI Research Repository (European University Institute) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Studies in Language
- Social Sciences › Linguistics and Language › Linguistic Variation and Morphology
- Social Sciences › Linguistics and Language › Linguistic and Sociocultural Studies
- Keywords
- gender-inclusive language, language change, German media, newspaper articles, political orientation of media, author gender, gender binary, DeReKo, language attitudes, behavior change
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