Australia’s NT Government Reverses Non-Gendered Language Guidelines for Schools Following Backlash

Australia’s NT Government Reverses Non-Gendered Language Guidelines for Schools Following Backlash
Prep students enjoy returning to the classroom at Lysterfield Primary School on October 12, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Updated:

Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) government has reversed its decision to introduce gender-neutral language in schools after being criticized for “attempting to apply Marxist ideology” into the education system.

According to draft guidelines on diverse sex, sexuality, and gender identity pushed by the NT Education Department, teachers could have been banned from calling students “boys and girls” or “ladies and gentlemen,” perceived as confirming “gender stereotyping,” which can be “alienating for gender questioning and gender diverse children.”

Nina Nguyen
Author
Nina Nguyen is a reporter based in Sydney. She covers Australian news with a focus on social, cultural, and identity issues. She is fluent in Vietnamese. Contact her at [email protected].
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