Gatineau also wants to tackle
the predominance of the masculine
over the feminine
It is not only Montreal that wants to attack the predominance of the masculine over the feminine in its public communications.
The City of Gatineau adopted a policy of equality between men and women on March 17,
which also provides for the use of epicene writing by its officials.
The City of Gatineau adopted a policy of equality between men and women on March 17,
which also provides for the use of epicene writing by its officials.
L has epicene writing is a current language that is becoming increasingly important to organizations seeking a more equal representation
of men and women. The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) summarizes the exercise in the use of collective nouns and nouns, adjectives or pronouns having the same form in masculine and feminine.
For example, instead of using the term "les Gatinois", an epicene writer would favor the expression "la population de Gatineau". “Voters”,
for example, would become “the electorate”. A drafting guide was also made available to Gatineau officials a few months ago.
"I think that socially, we are all there, says the manager of the file of gender equality in Gatineau, Councilor Isabelle N. Miron.
The language must be socially inclusive if we really want to have an egalitarian city. This is one of the ways to get there.
The policy, which contains several other elements, was adopted unanimously by the municipal council. ”
It is relevant to recall that in the French language, the masculine did not always prevail over the feminine. However, this rule has existed since the 17th century. In 1675, Father Dominique Bouhours, a French man of letters, ruled that "when the two genres meet, the most noble must prevail". The grammarian Nicolas Beauzée added, a few years later, that "the masculine gender is reputed to be more noble than the feminine because of the superiority of the male over the female". It is on this basis that the masculine generally prevails over the feminine,
even more than 300 years later.
Some Montreal columnists are tearing their shirts up straight since the administration of the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante,
announced a few days ago, wanting to turn to epicene writing in her public communications.
of men and women. The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) summarizes the exercise in the use of collective nouns and nouns, adjectives or pronouns having the same form in masculine and feminine.
For example, instead of using the term "les Gatinois", an epicene writer would favor the expression "la population de Gatineau". “Voters”,
for example, would become “the electorate”. A drafting guide was also made available to Gatineau officials a few months ago.
"I think that socially, we are all there, says the manager of the file of gender equality in Gatineau, Councilor Isabelle N. Miron.
The language must be socially inclusive if we really want to have an egalitarian city. This is one of the ways to get there.
The policy, which contains several other elements, was adopted unanimously by the municipal council. ”
It is relevant to recall that in the French language, the masculine did not always prevail over the feminine. However, this rule has existed since the 17th century. In 1675, Father Dominique Bouhours, a French man of letters, ruled that "when the two genres meet, the most noble must prevail". The grammarian Nicolas Beauzée added, a few years later, that "the masculine gender is reputed to be more noble than the feminine because of the superiority of the male over the female". It is on this basis that the masculine generally prevails over the feminine,
even more than 300 years later.
Some Montreal columnists are tearing their shirts up straight since the administration of the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante,
announced a few days ago, wanting to turn to epicene writing in her public communications.
"I think Quebec society is moving towards this in a very natural way," says Ms. Miron. It doesn't have to be a disease like some columnists do. There's nothing to tear off his shirt. Some pass it off as if it were a priority of the Plante administration.
I am sure this is obviously not the case. Montreal has been working on this for a long time. ”
In Gatineau, the epicene editorial team has started to establish itself without anyone realizing it in the past few months, notes Ms. Miron. "Sometimes just changing a word can make a difference," she says. There will be no language training for staff. What we do is provide a guide, the tools. These are recommendations, suggestions that are made. Employees will not be penalized in any way if they prefer to continue
writing otherwise. There is no obligation. We just offer a way of saying it so that our communications are more inclusive. ”
I am sure this is obviously not the case. Montreal has been working on this for a long time. ”
In Gatineau, the epicene editorial team has started to establish itself without anyone realizing it in the past few months, notes Ms. Miron. "Sometimes just changing a word can make a difference," she says. There will be no language training for staff. What we do is provide a guide, the tools. These are recommendations, suggestions that are made. Employees will not be penalized in any way if they prefer to continue
writing otherwise. There is no obligation. We just offer a way of saying it so that our communications are more inclusive. ”