Gender Neutral Communication or Snowflake Generation Madness?

In recent years, there was an uproar discussion emerging if one should retain gender-neutral discussion in one’s speech and writing. In a recent press conference, the government proposed that teachers should use gender-neutral communication. This is quite a controversial issue and in fact this has risen a lot of for’s and against’s both on Facebook, Maltese discussion shows and everyday conversations. We all know that gender stereotypes are a reality and this is not something we should endorse as a society. Stereotypes are a prejudgment of one’s character, interests, and likes.  By conducting such judgment one acts on his natural thinking and doesn’t use critical thinking to question other people's believes and interests. This measure was proposed after there was a clear discrepancy seen in the ICT sector in Malta (as also seen in foreign countries). 

The proposal is part of a working document on guidelines to increase and retain women in the ICT sector by the eSkills foundation and endorsed by the Equality Ministry and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Digital Innovation.

Although the efforts being put into this to erase this gender gap are clearly evident and also youth initiatives are being taken place such as 'MissInTech', there are few to no results seen in the ICT sector. Stereotyping is sometimes one of the causes of this misshapen, that is why the government proposed a gender-neutral communication plan for teachers to endorse in when teaching. A lot of people led them to thinking that this is the first step to other extreme snowflake generation ‘offendedness’ madness. The question to ask next is; is this really true? Have we taken it a step too far in trying to be politically correct? Not to specify any gender it was recently released that the correct way on addressing someone is by calling them ‘they’ or simply by the name of the individual. Some arguing that ‘they’ is grammatically incorrect when it comes to word structuring as it’s not naturally said in the English language. People who don’t want to be gender labeled opposed this argument by saying that they don’t feel they are represented either by a he or a she and that is why this should be adapted in our English language just like any other word has. Have we really lost our way and we need to remain conservative to our language use or should we be more open-minded to new concepts? This is all a matter of one's perception and mind frame. Hello to the future or goodbye to the golden past? 

The Precedent of Abortion: an incoming reality or scaremongering?

The present government has a plan ‘for it to be possible to have hospitals with a license to conduct abortion’.

On the same day, a walk as a manifestation in favour of the unborn was also organised by the Pro-Life Network. This same organisation was quoted by the 'Times Of Malta' making a claim that was similar to what was reported by NET News. Whereby the Maltese ‘will eventually be made to hold a referendum on whether or not to introduce abortion’.

The claims made by the opposition party and also by one of the main groups in favour of life gives us more information on a subject that has long been a taboo in Maltese society.

Without doubt, both the party and the organisation are pointing their guns at the Labour Government which has made itself over the years the hallmark of progressive and liberal reform.

It is to no surprise that the organisation is making a stand against, what they believe, the possible introduction of abortion ever since the morning after pill was introduced in pharmacies in Malta.  Furthermore, human rights organisations, the Council of Europe and also Aditus have publically stated that Malta should legalise abortion. However, can we really say that abortion will be legalized in our country through a referendum?

When it comes to the issue of having a referendum regarding abortion, the ball will be in the court of the Labour Government as civil society does not really have legal ground to initiate such a referendum.

This will, therefore, boil down to the popular opinion and the figures speak for themselves. 

As according to a survey conducted by Malta Today, an absolute majority, 90% to be exact, are against abortion in any way.

Abortion remains an unassailable bastion in this country’s secular drive with MaltaToday’s latest survey showing an overwhelming rejection across all age groups.

Therefore, the idea of abortion would be immediately shot down in a public vote. More so, if the government would try to implement this through parliament the opposition would not be the only party with grave internal problems. As given the standing of Maltese society it surely will be reflected by party members and parliamentarians.  

Let us not only forget that this would be an issue that would most likely unite the anti-labour front together. Given the fact that PN, Church and civil society organisations formed by those who disagree we with the current PN leader are conservative. (with regards to civil society a simple analysis of the people involved would drive one to the conclusion that most are conservative).

Yet, if there really is a group within labour that really wants to legalize abortion in any way, the Malta Today Survey which I referred to shows one interesting anomaly. That when the life of the mother is in danger, Maltese opinion becomes divided and in this case, the abortion stance is given the upper hand.

Given the fact that the government doesn’t have a public mandate and that public opinion is totally, generally speaking, against abortion, the issue if brought up does not have the legitimacy or the public support to be substantiated. In this case, the real scaremongering comes from the opposition giving the fact that it is stepping into the sentiment of those that support the pro-life network as they fear the reality of abortion being legal.  

In the end, however, for those who would want to legalize abortion, this will all boil down to skillful political maneuvering as it seems that people will have a different opinion when it comes to saving the Mother.

The debate of abortion, if further explored, will surely test the edifice of Maltese society and the thinking of political strategists.  

Where is Freedom of Speech Leading Us?

There was a lot of talks lately when it comes to discussing freedom of speech. You can say that every media house tries to protect this right. If you take our right to speak our mind then we cannot really call it a free society and a democratic country, right? But a lot comes to question. Can we really call online harassment as part of freedom of speech? Really and truly is there a time where to draw the line? It seems that now people can just insult someone just because they might not agree with the same political opinion or any opinion in any case. Is it right that a member of parliament irrelevant from her political background is called a ''whore'' just because she is a politically exposed person?

TVM news portal stated ''She (Rosianne Cutajar) said that when similar comments were made on persons close to the Nationalist Party these were immediately condemned by the media and other organisations as was appropriate. However, she said, it seems there are those who find comments like these acceptable if they are made against a person from the Labour Party.'' this raised many questions. Are we only in favor of shaming arguments which we don’t agree on and don’t care about the rest? Apart from the obvious fallacy being conducted; sexism, we should always remember that black on white will always be black and so we should treat everyone the same and not alter our opinion just because this person is initially ‘’against’’ us. In the end, we are all humans let’s not be blind sighted with political parties and opinions but keep in mind the dignity of a person when engaging in our right of freedom of speech. Yes, we have freedom of speech, we also have freedom of free will but that doesn’t mean I can go kill someone when I want to, so let’s not kill someone when we want to with our words. Words are a tool, don’t use them as a weapon.

Open Thoughts

Blogging - The online way to express one's thoughts from private to public.

This is the turning point were from today my thoughts will be embedded - ink onto paper hence my blogging journey begins. 

I am Martina Grech; travel obsessed, theater lover, environmentalist, political enthusiast, and FEMINIST.

I consider myself quite a pioneer when it comes to human rights and equality. I believe in a society, that when the walls are brought down, we don't see each other by gender but as individuals with different trails of thoughts. Current affairs are what make today's politics and that is why I decided to start this blogging journey. I don’t want to simply comment on one aspect of this society but on all the current affairs going on in our life, especially those affecting us now and our tomorrow. It’s important to share one’s opinion and I’d be willing to hear yours too. Politics is a two-way street, let’s not be blind sighted and let's learn from each other and evolve our mindsets.