Dutch Ministry of Education urges not to use terms "father" and "mother"

An illustrative image of a modern family in the Netherlands. Photo: open sources

The Dutch 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 guidance, traditional terms are to be replaced with more neutral wording in order to make the language “inclusive” and reflective of the “diversity of family forms,” including same-sex and LGBT families. The recommendation forms part of a broader policy of family pluralism aimed at reshaping the language used in state institutions.

The initiative comes amid the ongoing transformation of social norms in the country. The authorities stress that the goal is to adapt official language to contemporary social realities and to different models of family life.

At the same time, critics note that abandoning the terms “father” and “mother” affects not only language, but also the very understanding of family relationships, since these concepts have traditionally been bound up with ideas of parenthood and the giving of life.

In their view, replacing these words with neutral expressions raises a broader debate about the limits of linguistic change and its impact on how family and society are understood.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the IOC banned transgender athletes from participating in the Olympic Games.

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