Ungender-Aazaadi’s Hindi Gender Dictionary: Queering Language For The Masses

Written by: Rituparna Chatterjee & Sayed Raza Hussain Zaidi

At the heart of an individual’s liberty and freedom is the basic human need for self expression. Language plays a huge role in gender expression because it opens up a realm of possibilities for those whose identities are not restricted to social binaries. Language broadens the world’s view of the spectrum of gender, sex and sexuality beyond common misconceptions that define the experiences of millions of people. It frees them from narrow compartments in which society pigeonholes them.

At Ungender, over a period of eight months we have published a glossary of English gender terms under the banner of ‘Gender Dictionary’ to help guide the knowledge and understanding of our audience because we believe that common understanding of gender binaries, especially at the workplace, has the potential to erase and exclude the experiences of a significant part of our population already under the shadow of misinformation, discrimination and bias.

We believe that knowledge is power. We believe that knowing the proper terms for gender and sexuality will help people be more tolerant, inclusive and accepting of the LGBTQIA community. We believe that the broadening of the vocabulary will further the cause of equality through baby steps before the larger battles of marriage equality or legally serving in the armed forces are won.   

India is home to an estimated 2.5 million gay people and it took over a decade long struggle to decriminalise same sex sexual relationships through a Supreme Court order. While acceptance, in a conservative society and country where patriarchy governs most aspects of life, will take time, it will help people anchor their language in inclusivity. 

Why Do We Need A Hindi Gender Dictionary? 

The language normally associated with gender and sexuality is rooted in English urban-ness. To empower people from the community who speak the languages of their region, especially those newly exploring their gender and sexuality, it is important to offer them the option to use the terminology languages other than English offer, to help them find the words that will go on to define who they are. Keeping all of this in mind, Aazaadi Foundation International and Ungender Legal Advisory brings you a visual Hindi gender dictionary. The first list of words — 33 in number — have been translated to Hindi with the help of Understanding Gender by Kamla Bhasin, the UNDP, and The Humsafar Trust Booklet. 

The toolkit has the entire glossary, along with their explanation.

What’s Next?

Following Hindi, we hope to translate the set of words, adding to it, into other Indian languages as well. 

हमे लिंग आधारित हिंदी शब्दकोश की ज़रूरत क्यों है?

किसी भी व्यक्ति के लिए भाषा या ज़ुबान विचारों को व्यक्त करने का एक प्रमुख साधन है। भाषा मुख से उच्चारित होने वाले शब्दों और वाक्यों आदि का वह समूह है, भाषा की सहायता से ही किसी समाज के लोग अपने मनोगत भाव अथवा विचार एक-दूसरे से बता पाते है, और मनोवैज्ञानिको के अनुसार हम जिस भाषा में सोचते है, उसी भाषा में बोलते है और उसी भाषा में हमें समझने में मदद मिलती है।

अगर हम सेन्सस 2011 के आंकड़े उठा के देखे तो भारत में 52,83,47,193 यानी 43.63% लोग हिंदी भाषा का इस्तेमाल करते है, और हमारे पास जेंडर, सेक्स से सम्बन्धित हिंदी में बहुत ही कम साहित्य या सामग्री उपलब्ध है, ये एक सबसे बड़ी वजह है की हमारे देश में जेंडर और यौनिकता के प्रति जागरूकता बहुत कम है।

इसी वजह से हम लोगो ने जेंडर के परिपेक्ष्य में हिंदी अनुवाद और नया साहित्य बनाने का ज़िम्मा उठाया, जिससे हम लोग भारत की ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा आबादी तक पहुंच सके और उन्हें सही जानकारी उपलब्ध करा सके.

About Aazaadi Foundation International

Aazaadi Foundation International is a youth organisation that works towards bridging the gap that exists in our society. Each and every individual has the right and freedom to live a dignified life. Through networking we aim to cover maximum bandwidth of issues. Our work aims to spread love, peace and happiness.

About Conduct

CONDUCT, a SaaS product, is the brainchild of UNGENDER Advisory, an inclusion and compliance consultancy since 2013. After working with over 400+ companies directly, and advising individuals, government bodies, and the private sector on inclusion and diversity laws, a need of a simpler and yet comprehensive solution was realised. CONDUCT is an output of this.

About Ungender

UNGENDER Legal Advisory develops “customized” and “industry-specific” products and services that enables industry leaders to comply with legal provisions and make better workplaces for employees.  Our array of products include: Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Toolkit containing training material, Capacity building material for the ICC, POSH and Maternity Bill Compliance Audit, Employee counselling helpline, Maternity benefit capsules, Workforce policy and compliance bundles, Legal consultancy services around workplace compliance and employee management. 

For queries:

Sayed Raza Hussain Zaidi: communications@aazaadifoundation.org 

Rituparna Chatterjee: rituparna@ungender.in