Conference Details

Conference dates: Friday 27th and Saturday 28th March 2026
Location: Online; hosted by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)
Format: Online and free of charge - to ensure fair access.
Organiser: Dr Falco Pfalzgraf, QMUL

Overview

In recent years, the promotion of gender-inclusive language has been a focus of social, political, and institutional reform across the globe. However, in many contexts, this momentum has slowed, stalled, or encountered significant resistance.

This conference brought together scholars and practitioners to examine the current contestation of and resistance to the implementation of gender-inclusive language across different cultural and institutional settings. The focus was on domains of action and influence, rather than isolated language case studies.

The conference consisted of 5 panels with a total of 23 presentations which covered over 12 languages. Our presenters' institutions are based in 14 Countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA

In total, 221 participants from 34 countries registered for the event: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Macau, Madagascar, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA, and Yemen.

Conference Programme & Archive

Friday 27th March 2026

08:00 – 08:15 Welcome (Falco PFALZGRAF, Queen Mary University of London [QMUL] / UK) [Recording ]

Panel 1: Grassroots & Discursive Resistance [Recording ]

08:15 – 08:45
Lindsey STEVENSON (University of Sydney / Australia)
Backlash and Discursive Struggle in French TikTok Discourse: Debates in the comment section of #écritureinclusive
Abstract [PDF 161KB]       Presentation [PDF 1,426KB]

08:45 – 09:15
Jochen MATTHIES (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg / Germany)
"L'état, c'est they" – Investigating the opposition to gender-inclusive language in non-binary Wikipedia biographies.
Abstract [PDF 198KB]       Presentation [PDF 7,067KB]

09:15 – 09:45
Rosalba NODARI (University of Siena / Italy) &
Sara GEMELLI (University of Bergamo & University of Pavia / Italy)
The Schwa-Pill: Backlash Against Italian Gender-Inclusive Language as a Gateway to Anti-Feminist Discourses.
Abstract [PDF 104KB]       Presentation [PDF 485KB]

09:45 – 10:00
15-minute break

Panel 2: Cross-Linguistic and Pronoun Resistance [Recording ]

10:00 – 10:30
Antonella BOVE (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice / Italy) &
Federica MARENGHI (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice / Italy)
Exploring AI-Resistance to Degendering Strategies in Italian and Spanish.
Abstract [PDF 183KB]       Presentation [PDF 668KB]

10:30 – 11:00
Amanda REMSÖ (Kristianstad University & Gothenburg University / Sweden) &
Emma A. RENSTRÖM (absent; Kristianstad University / Sweden)
Ideological Roots of Resistance Toward Gender-Inclusive Policies: Distinguishing Between Multi-Gender and De-Gender Policies.
Abstract [PDF 169KB]       Presentation [PDF 496KB]

11:00 – 11:30
Abdelhamid M. AHMED (Qatar University) &
Lameya M. REZK (absent; Qatar University)
Backlash and Bilingual Practice in the Gulf: Tracing Gender-Inclusive Reference and Institutional Contestation across L1 Arabic and L2 English Student Writing.
Abstract [PDF 222KB]       Presentation [PDF 2,179KB]

11:30 – 13:00
90-minute break

Panel 3: Political Discourses and Campaigns [Recording ]

13:00 – 13:30
Jens FLEISCHHAUER (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf / Germany)
On the rejection of gender-inclusive language in the German political discourse – An analysis of press statements from right-wing and conservative parties.
Abstract [PDF 151KB]       Presentation [PDF 514KB]

13:30 – 14:00
Daniela CESIRI (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice / Italy)
Resistance to Gender-inclusive language in Italian left and right political leaders: a comparative discourse analysis of national vs. international contexts in speeches in English and in Italian.
Abstract [PDF 66KB]       Presentation [PDF 1,099KB]

14:00 – 14:15
15-minute break

14:15 – 14:45
Ruxandra VIȘAN (University of Bucharest / Romania)
Gender-inclusive language as an impossible endeavour in Romania: The representation of non-binary linguistic proposals in a language-focused TV show.
Abstract [PDF 165KB]       Presentation [PDF 867KB]

14:45 – 15:15
Wayne MARTINO (Western University / Canada) &
Jennifer C. INGREY (Western University / Canada)
Mapping the emergence of "Groomer" discourses in Canada: A discourse analysis of the proliferation of anti-gender politics targeting trans and queer affirming education and youth in schools.
Abstract [PDF 202KB]       Presentation [PDF 776KB]

15:15 – 15:45
Falco PFALZGRAF (Queen Mary University of London [QMUL], UK)
Linguistic Purism and Resistance to Gender-Inclusive Language: Discourse Strategies of the German Verein für Sprachpflege (VfS).
Abstract [PDF 70KB]       Presentation [PDF 365KB]

15:45 – 16:00
15-minute break

Panel 4a: Legislative and Institutional Resistance [Recording ]

16:00 – 16:30
David HEAP (Western University / Canada) &
Yarubi DÍAZ COLMENARES (Western University / Canada)
The Royal Spanish Academy: Giving ground slowly but still in denial.
Abstract [PDF 87KB]       Presentation [PDF 1,052KB]

16:30 – 17:00
Elyx Desloover (University of California, Davis / USA)
Counting or Cutting Identity Labels: How Social Media Dealt with Trump’s Orders against Gender.
Abstract [PDF 188KB]       Presentation [PDF 1,932KB]

17:00 – 17:15 Day 1 Closing Remarks (Falco PFALZGRAF, Queen Mary University of London [QMUL], UK) [Recording ]

 

Saturday 28th March 2026

09:30 – 09:45 Day 2 Opening (Falco PFALZGRAF, Queen Mary University of London [QMUL], UK) [Recording ]

Panel 4b: Legislative and Institutional Resistance [Recording ]

09:45 – 10:15
Laura ÁLVAREZ LÓPEZ (Stockholm University / Sweden)
Language as Battleground: Gender-Fair Language in Brazil’s Legislative Arena (2000–2024).
Abstract [PDF 193KB]       Presentation [PDF 825KB]

10:15 – 10:45
Silvia BONAVERO (University of Verona / Italy & Université Paris Cité / France) &
Jelena DANILOVIĆ JEREMIĆ (University of Kragujevac / Serbia) &
Anna JAMKA (University of Warsaw / Poland) &
Aleksandra TOMASZEWSKA (absent; Polish Academy of Sciences / Poland) &
From Enforcement to Resistance: Institutional Guidelines on Gender-Inclusive Language in Comparative Perspective.
Abstract [PDF 165KB]       Presentation [PDF 615KB]

10:45 – 11:15
Aline SIEGENTHALER (University of Fribourg / Switzerland) &
Samira OCHS (Leibniz-Institute for the German Language [IDS] / Germany)
Bans on gender-inclusive language in Germany and Switzerland: From State Policies to Local Practice.
Abstract [PDF 177KB]       Presentation [PDF 1,521KB]

11:15 – 11:30
15-minute break

Panel 5a: Academia & Education [Recording ]

11:30 – 12:00
Martina GIOVINE (Vita-Salute San Raffaele University / Italy)
Gender-Fair Language and Institutional Normativity in Italian Universities.
Abstract [PDF 2,665KB]       [no script / ppt submitted]

12:00 – 12:30
Paula BLASCHKE (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf / Germany)
The discussion of gender-inclusive language school textbooks. A comparative analysis of school textbooks published in France and French as a Foreign Language (FLE) textbooks used in German secondary schools.
Abstract [PDF 181KB]       Presentation [PDF 560KB]

12:30 – 13:15
45-minute break

13:15 – 13:45
María MUELAS-GIL (Autonomous University of Madrid [UAM] / Spain)
Guidelines versus Reality: Gender-Inclusive Language in Teaching Plans and Teacher Practices in Spain.
Abstract [PDF 66KB]       Presentation [PDF 2,477KB]

Panel 5b: Academia & Education [Recording ]

13:45 – 14:15
Sonja WÜRTEMBERGER (IU International University Erfurt / Germany) &
Florian PERST (ill / absent; IU International University Erfurt / Germany)
Gender-Inclusive Language Practices among Students in German Distance Education.
Abstract [PDF 61KB]       Presentation [PDF 739KB]

14:15 – 14:30
15-minute break

14:30 – 15:00
Daniel WALTER (Emory University, Oxford College / USA) &
Claire SCOTT (Vanderbilt University / USA) &
Katherine KERSCHEN (Washington University in St. Louis / USA)
Teaching Beyond the Binary: Perspectives from German as Second Language Education.
Abstract [PDF 162KB]       Presentation [PDF 739KB]

15:00 – 15:30
Caroline LEBREC (University of British Columbia [UBC] / Canada)
How to act in non-harmonious time? An educational leadership language teacher approach to the variations of French in Canada.
Abstract [PDF 261KB]       Presentation [PDF 666KB]

15:30 – 15:45
Conference Closing (Falco PFALZGRAF, Queen Mary University of London [QMUL], UK) [Recording ]

Contact

For questions or further information, please contact the conference organiser:

Dr Falco Pfalzgraf
f.pfalzgraf@qmul.ac.uk
Queen Mary University of London
School of the Arts
Mile End Campus
London E1 4NS