We're all Hens: Sweden Introduces Gender-Neutral Pronoun

How can you raise a child in an environment free of gender bias when the very language you speak distinguishes boys from girls?

Well, Sweden is fixing that obvious linguistic flaw by introducing a new gender-neutral pronoun:

Just days after International Women's Day a new pronoun, hen (pronounced like the bird in English), was added to the online version of the country’s National Encyclopedia. The entry defines hen as a "proposed gender-neutral personal pronoun instead of he [han in Swedish] and she [hon]."The National Encyclopedia announcement came amid a heated debate about gender neutrality that has been raging in Swedish newspaper columns and TV studios and on parenting blogs and feminist websites. It was sparked by the publication of Sweden's first ever gender-neutral children's book, Kivi och Monsterhund (Kivi and Monsterdog). It tells the story of Kivi, who wants a dog for "hen's" birthday.

Nathalie Rothschild explains in Slate's DoubleX blog: Link

View more over at our Kids & Baby Blog NeatoBambino


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WHO CARES. there is automatically a gender bias because we actually do have different genders. everyone needs to stop worrying about being "gender-neutral" and start worrying about being a human being.
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In finnish language there is only one pronoun for both genders, so it is gender-neutral language. I still think there is some sort of gender-bias in Finland, althought it is one of the world most gender equal countries. Becouse of the gender-neutral language, I don't know.
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