A large majority of Argentines (nearly 56%) chose liberal economist Javier Miley, 53, as their new president in November, mainly because of his extreme economic agenda. They hoped to put an end to high national debt and inflation (250 percent annually). Many voters took Miley's culturally conservative approach — inspired in part by the people he surrounded himself with — for granted.
It now appears that President Miley does not view his new mission as a purely economic one: he also aims to bring about a cultural change in one of the most advanced countries in Latin America.
About the author
Joost de Vries is the Latin America correspondent for De Volkskrant. Lives in Mexico City.
Manuel Adorni, Miley's spokesman, announced on Tuesday that the government would stop using the inclusive language. The government now speaks and writes Castilian (or Spanish) again according to the rules of the Real Academia Española, the Madrid-based guardian of the Spanish language.
“We will not discuss this matter,” Adorny said. 'Spanish covers all sectors (of society, Mr. Dr.), we don't need more structures. We do not participate in this discussion, because we believe that the gender perspective has been used for political purposes.
The gender-neutral “e” ending
Thus the gender-neutral “e” ends, as in the word com.todesIt is the opposite of the masculine All tasks (Everyone, men and women) and the feminine Todas (All Women) also appeals to people who don't fit two gender boxes.
In fact, Spanish fits well into the inclusive language thanks to the letter “e.” This is what non-binary person means in Spanish Ellie – the next Sh (He) and Ella (she). This is simpler than the somewhat tough Dutch “chicken”, or the English one they.
However, in Latin America, the use of gender-neutral words also provokes fierce resistance among citizens of the conservative right. By passing off “real” Spanish as ekaze, Miley panders to this segment of his supporters. At the same time, he is also culturally disconnected from the legacy of his predecessor, the leftist (Peronist) President Alberto Fernandez.
Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity
Fernandez has led the way in using inclusive language and promoting a “gender lens” in government, a policy that does not automatically take men as the norm, but takes women and sexual minorities into account.
Under his government, gender-neutral language was not the norm, but many government institutions shifted to it, such as the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity. That ministry doesn't have to change anything; It was canceled by Miley upon his appointment.
