Queering Czech Language

A panel discussion about using gender-inclusive language within institutions and organisations.

The event will take place on April 6, from 7 — 9 pm as an online Zoom webinar and Facebook stream. In the chat and comment section, it will be possible to ask questions from the audience.

Zoom Webinar

Panellists:

Jana Valdrová: Linguist, Germanist specialising in gender- and sexual-identity linguistics, author of books and encyclopedic entries on the relationship between language and gender
Jamie Emma Rose: Americanist, translator, trans liberation activist
Eva Čivrná / Nesenutí: Member of the F*ÉRA team who mainly deals with the topic of gender identities and non-heterosexual forms of sexuality through workshops focused on sexual education and prevention of gender-based violence
Nika Mazániková / Nesenutí: PR coordinator and member of the F*ÉRA team who mainly focuses on the issue of social media and direct work with the youth
Helena Skálová / Gender Studies, o.p.s.: Director of Gender Studies, o.p.s., and editor of the quarterly Rovné příležitosti v souvislostech, member of the Government Council for Gender Equality and its Institutional Framework Committee

Respondents (asking questions and commenting):
Hana Janečková / Display
Anna Remešová / Artalk.cz
Tomáš Vaněk / Academy of Fine Arts in Prague
The audience will be able to ask questions through a chat.

Presented by:
Institute of Anxiety / Barbora Kleinhamplová

The language we speak and the words we use greatly affect the way we think about ourselves and the world. Language reflects stereotypes, societal norms, and expectations, and can serve to maintain power relations that suit the ruling classes – such as through the use of the generic masculine, which keeps women in the background.
In this online discussion panel, we will discuss the topic of gender-inclusive Czech, the various forms it takes, and questions associated with its use within organisations and institutions.

Artistic spaces are some of the first to reflect the various types of inequalities and changes, which is why the Institute of Anxiety initiated this discussion with the goal of actively supporting changes to the language on the level of institutions, individuals and organisations from which it could begin to spread further. Institutions have a special place in this process, as they are the normative bodies of our society.
Help us stir up a debate on the use of gender-inclusive language at the institutional level and participate in our joint search for a more equitable version of Czech through online chat.

This event is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, Prague City Hall, Prague 7 City District Municipality and the State Fund of Culture.