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Gender-inclusive French translation as a feminist practice

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Feminist translation goes beyond simply converting words from one language to another. It is a practice deeply rooted in collaboration, valuing women’s voices and feminist texts, and respecting both our own work and the work of others. But beyond these principles, feminist translation is also about the language we choose to use.

My feminism is intersectional—it actively opposes racism, ableism, and transphobia, among other types of oppression. It is about ensuring that everyone feels seen, included, and respected. This is why I make it a point to use inclusive language in my translations.

I translate into French, a language—like Spanish—that relies heavily on gendered word endings. Traditionally, the gender of a noun or adjective corresponds to the gender of the person being referred to. However, in the 17th century, linguistic reforms intentionally masculinised the French language. These changes were rooted in sexism, based on the idea that men were more noble than women and should therefore dominate grammar. As a result, the “generic masculine” rule was established: when referring to mixed-gender groups, the masculine form must be used, even if the group contains only one male among many women. Additionally, many feminine job titles disappeared, and women in these professions were encouraged to use the masculine version to maintain their professional prestige.

So how can we foster inclusivity through language?

1. Respect and representation

We must strive to represent everyone accurately, avoiding stereotypes and problematic language that reinforce existing biases. This means making deliberate choices to reflect diversity and inclusivity in our translations. And this is not just about gender, but also LGBTQIA+ representation, race and ableism for example.

2. Challenging the generic masculine

The generic masculine erases women and non-binary people from discourse. To challenge this, we can adopt inclusive alternatives. However, each solution comes with its own challenges:

  • Neutralisation: one option is to neutralise gendered expressions altogether, but this risks erasing gender identity rather than affirming it.
  • Fusion forms: a more common approach in French is to merge masculine and feminine endings to create gender-inclusive forms. However, this presents two key challenges:
    • Visibility of non-binary people: French, like many gendered languages, is structured around a binary system, making it difficult to fully integrate non-binary people.
    • Avoiding a new generic form: if we create a new gender-neutral standard, we must ensure that it does not once again erase women or other marginalised identities.

3. Accessibility

Many of the inclusive writing techniques developed in French are not easily accessible. Some pose challenges for screen-reading technology. Members of the dyslexia community also report difficulty understanding certain neologisms or complex grammatical constructions. If inclusivity sacrifices accessibility, are we truly being inclusive?

Navigating gendered language in translation requires a careful balance between inclusion, readability, and linguistic evolution. While French and other gendered languages do not yet have perfect solutions, feminist translation plays a crucial role in pushing for change. By questioning traditional norms and seeking new ways to represent all identities, we contribute to a more inclusive and equitable linguistic landscape. Language is constantly evolving, and through thoughtful, feminist translation, we help shape its future.

Inès Hinojo-Moulin
Inclusive and non-binary translator from English and Spanish into French.

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