GENDER-SENSITIVE LANGUAGE
As a result of our bachelor thesis about gender sensitivity within the German language, we developed a participatory pop-up exhibition. It invites the visitors to approach this rather controversial topic, contribute their own opinions, and experiment with formulations that take everyone into account.
exhibition design, editorial, campaign, UI / UX,
graduation project / October 2020 - February 2021
with Johanna Manz
The title “Mitgemeint – Jeder meint nicht alle” roughly translates to “Included – everyone (masculine) doesn’t include all”.
The title “Mitgemeint – Jeder meint nicht alle” roughly translates to “Included – everyone (masculine) doesn’t include all”.
Gender-sensitive language is not only about making women visible but also about including non-binary people linguistically. Whether we need a fairer language or not is being discussed for some years now and often results in heated debates. Not everyone is equally informed, and prejudices make it harder to find a fair solution. The pop-up exhibition “Mitgemeint – Jeder meint nicht alle” opens up this discourse.
You can read more about this particular situation in the german language in English here.
The exhibition starts with a short riddle that exposes the misperceptions language can create. English subtitles coming soon!
(click here if the video isn't playing properly)
The exhibition starts with a short riddle that exposes the misperceptions language can create.
To enable as many people as possible access to the exhibition, it takes place in buildings owned by public authorities or non-profit operators. We want to give especially people with ambivalent opinions a chance to approach this topic. Throughout our research, we realised there is a need for places to discuss and more information, no matter how much a person already knows about this topic.
THE CAMPAIGN
Participatory posters give a first impression of the exhibition and announce it in the respective location.
THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition aims to give the visitors an impulse through new insights and perspectives to reflect on their language habits and their consequences. Rather than stating strict rules, we are aiming to evoke an open dialogue where everyone can take part.
The exhibition
The exhibition aims to give the visitors an impulse through new insights and perspectives to reflect on their language habits and their consequences. Rather than stating strict rules, we are aiming to evoke an open dialogue where everyone can take part.
The different modules of the exhibition can be rearranged depending on the space they’re in. For now, we only build the main parts of the exhibition in the original size. This rendering shows all modules.
The visitors get invited to contribute their opinions and thoughts in several sections throughout the exhibitions with stickers and sticky dots.
THE TEXT LAB
The different gender-sensitive options can be tested and compared in an interactive tablet application.
THE NEWSPAPER
The newspaper gives a more profound insight into the debate and addresses different aspects like scientific analysis of the effects of language on our gender perceptions, politics, or how other languages deal with this issue. Since it is a lot to read, the visitors can take it home.
THE WEBSITE
The website informs about the next location and serves as an archive of the opinions visitor of previous exhibitions contributed. It also makes the Text lab accessible outside of the exhibition.
