Dismissed because she did not gender-neutrally: Employer speaks of “moral obligation”

Hard to believe, but true: Gendering is not mandatory in Germany. To date, there is no legal basis prescribing the use of "gender-appropriate language." There is also no nationwide regulation governing how and when gendering should be used. Furthermore, the vast majority of Germans reject gendering, especially in public administration, schools, and universities.

Nevertheless, gender language has long been common practice and may become a requirement, which from a legal perspective shouldn't even exist. On the website "Stop Gendering," people who experience the consequences of "gender harassment" can report their experiences. A father reports on gender education in an elementary school. A young woman was allegedly fired for not using gender-neutral language.

Whistleblower platform aims to document the “culture war”

"Contrary to politicians' claims that gender is voluntary or merely recommended, it is being massively promoted at all levels of society," states the website "Stop Gendering." Sabine Mertens, founder and operator of the platform, aims to mobilize the "silent majority" against a vocal "gender minority." And this has been going on for some time.

Sabine Mertens, art historian and board member of the German Language Association , launched the popular initiative "End Gender in Administration and Education Hamburg" over two years ago. In an interview with the Berliner Zeitung, Mertens said that "the spark soon spread to other federal states," resulting in the creation of an independent information platform for all popular initiatives.

Even though none of the popular initiatives have been successful so far and "led to the restoration of the standard language," the group of those who want to fight back against the "culture war " of the "gender lobby" is growing. Furthermore, it is important to document cases in which people are coerced into using gender: "We set up the whistleblower platform specifically for this purpose."

For Sabine Mertens, it's clear that this is a "culture war being imposed on the majority." At the end of the year, Mertens plans to publish a kind of black book in which significant cases will be made public and placed in context with society as a whole. "Stop Gendering" has already made public two cases that were reported and carefully examined by Mertens' team.

"The father of an 8-year-old elementary school boy submitted a worksheet," Mertens explains. The worksheet was intended to teach the boy how to "gender correctly." The elementary school student had to correct incorrectly gendered words. "You think it's a bad joke, but that's the reality, and it's absurd," adds Sabine Mertens. In recent years, she has noticed that there is a "climate of fear" regarding gender, especially in the workplace.

Many people submit to social pressure out of fear of the consequences. The case of Bernadette B., who was reported to "Stop Gendering," is said to demonstrate what can happen when one resists this pressure. The young woman was allegedly presented with a gender-neutral employment contract for a position as an educational specialist at a Lebenshilfe facility. B. crossed out the gender form and returned the contract.

“These people who do such things are of course also protecting themselves.”

According to her own statement, Bernadette B. started her new job and received a call from the human resources department a week later. "She was told that although gender-based language was 'not regulated by law,' there was a 'moral obligation' to use gender," according to the accompanying press release . After the phone call, B. reportedly asked in writing whether she would face any employment law consequences. The employer replied in the negative. A few days later, B. was terminated.

The case has been reviewed, and Sabine Mertens has the relevant emails. Nevertheless, Bernadette B. will not take legal action against her dismissal, even though "it is clearly discrimination ." Why? "These people who do things like this are obviously playing it safe," says Mertens. It's unclear whether the plaintiff will prevail in court.

A risk Bernadette B. won't take. She already has a new job: "After Bernadette B.'s case was published, a company actually contacted us with a job offer. We think that's great, and we much prefer something like that to a lawsuit that could fail."

Is B. an isolated case? Sabine Mertens says no. In her opinion, most people are afraid to speak up: "Many people are afraid and need their jobs; their very existence is at stake." Mertens recently gave a presentation at a company event. There, she says, some employees reported that "enormous pressure is building up." There is no gender requirement, yet all employees are encouraged to use gender-neutral language, even though "many don't even want to."

Green politician speaks of “undemocratic” processes

The societal shift away from the generic masculine and toward gender-appropriate language has been happening quietly for years, says Mertens. The "gender worldview was slowly being carried into the institutions." She says she'll never get used to the gender stars, dots, and dashes. This is also one reason why she won't give up. This is despite the fact that she and her fellow activists have been met with hatred from the very beginning.

Sometimes it's Antifa (Antifa) who disrupts an action, she says. Then a Green politician who appeared at an event organized by the Lower Saxony Anti-Gender People's Initiative and called it an "undemocratic" process. Mertens comments: "It really makes you wonder where we are. What could possibly be more beautiful and democratic than a people's initiative?"

But is reporting alleged gender exclusion the right way? According to Mertens, there is no other option at this point. Advocates of gender language do not accept dissenting opinions. For this reason, it is important to "encourage" people and raise their own voices. This is more important than ever: "It's no longer five to twelve, you can't even say that anymore. If gender is taught in kindergarten, then it's already past twelve – well past twelve."

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