Union scraps the word “official”

Published 16 October 2024 at 16.53

Domestic. Fackförbundet Vision has decided to replace the word “officer” with the gender-neutral “officer”, reports Affärsvärlden.

Share the article

TwittraShare

The decision was made after a vote among members of the association. The purpose of the change is stated to be to create a more inclusive language and break so-called gender norms.

– It was a victory. The language is important and can cement gender norms, says Reagan Andersson, chairman of Vision's department in Stenungsund.

A proposal to change “ombudsman” to “ombudsperson” has also been discussed, but meets resistance. Some members express concern that the change could affect their role.

Language professor Karin Milles emphasizes the importance of a public language that is comprehensible and believes that “official” is a more easily understood concept than “official”.