Netherlands Ministry of Education urges not to use terms "father" and "mother"
In the Netherlands, officials have been recommended to abandon the words "father" and "mother", suggesting to replace them with formulations within the framework of inclusivity policy and consideration for LGBT families.
The Netherlands Ministry of Education has recommended that civil servants avoid using the words "father" and "mother" in official communication, reports Tribune Chrétienne.
According to the published guidelines, it is proposed to replace traditional terms with more neutral formulations to make language "inclusive" and accommodating to "diversity of family forms" – including same-sex and LGBT families. The recommendation has become part of a family pluralism policy aimed at changing vocabulary in government institutions.
The initiative is being implemented against the backdrop of ongoing transformation of social norms in the country. Authorities emphasize that the goal is to adapt official language to contemporary social realities and various family models.
At the same time, critics note that abandoning the terms "father" and "mother" affects not only language but also understanding of family relationships, since these concepts are traditionally connected with notions of parenthood and the transmission of life.
In their opinion, replacing these words with neutral expressions raises discussion about the boundaries of linguistic changes and their impact on the perception of family and society.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the IOC banned transgender athletes from participating in the Olympic Games.
