"FEMALE", "GIRL" or WINTA-people: about using vocabulary that accurately describes us

"Language and communication matter because they make people visible or invisible and recognise or demean their contribution to society. Our language shapes our thoughts, and the way we think influences our actions. Gender-blind or discriminatory language reinforces sexist attitudes and behaviour." Human Rights Channel - Council of Europe - Stop Sexism.

WHY USE "GIRL" WHEN TALKING ABOUT WOMEN ?

📑Girl = a young or relatively young woman, a child-aged person

🔎Historically, this term has been used quite interchangeably with the word “woman”, with a well-documented sexist biais. It is often used to describe extremely stereotypical attitudes linked to feminine attributes [see post on FEMININE]. Using the word “girl” to talk about an adult woman is an attempt, whether intentional or unwitting, to subjugate, discredit or otherwise undermine a woman’s authority, stature, knowledge, abilities or agency.

And since we live in societies that value women when they’re young (that simultaneously over-fetichizes young girls), some women use “girl” to describe themselves or others in a more positive light, and would commonly shy-away from “woman” to retain a “cool & light” image.

🎵In the music industry, the terms “fangirl” or “girlband” are quite common. Both put an emphasis on “feminine” stereotypes that tend to be seen as less valuable or less marketable [see resources linked]. The iconic punk movement “Riot Grrrl” even deliberately used this term to distance themselves from the passive term “girl”.

🤔Why do international institutions like the UN make a difference in policy between Girls and Women? Doesn’t that mean that they’re not interchangeable? Why is calling men “boys” infantilizing but not when women are being called “girls”?

👉Try naming your collaborators and your public correctly. It is necessary to spread this wider understanding of our everyday vocabulary in order to properly name the people around us and create safer spaces for creativity, expression, and professional environment.

WHY USE "FEMALE" WHEN TALKING ABOUT WOMEN ?

📑Female = adjective with a biological connotation, typically referring to gender assigned at birth based on anatomy. It is also used to describe non-human animals who are capable of bearing young or producing eggs.

🔎This term is related to its supposed equivalent “male”, constructing a perceived binary of biological sexes, undermining the reality of intersex people accross the world, and enforcing a binary division of the world. This term is widely used across multiple sectors, most times losing track of its original meaning. There is also some confusion between female & feminine, relating each to separate fields of arbitrary characteristics.

It is also largely used in the incel and masculinist communities (and other anti-feminist groups) in order to dehumanise women and FINTA* people.

🎵In the music industry, it is widely used to describe women, in an interchangeable manner. Reasons are currently unknown as to its origins, but there seems to be little questioning around the use of this word to describe women or FINTA* artists.

🤔How does the biological features of an artist reflect the quality of their work? How does it translate in your language to have the word “female” used to describe a woman ? How does using the English language in a Belgian context impact what words we use to describe ourselves?

👉If gender needs to be addressed, we use more specific terms that reflect the gender identity of the people working with us.

✅ We can then use WOMEN, WOMXN, or WINTA* people (*see below)

FINTA / WINTA

📑F/WINTA people = Femme’ /Women, Intersex people, Non-binary people, Transgender people, Agender people, …

🔎This acronym, used by our German- and Dutch-speaking compatriots, has recently made its appearance in committed circles. We often see the terms "women and people from gender minorities", "womxn", ", or "all those who are not cisgender men".

We want to be defined by who we are in all our diversity and with clarity for all. The acronym "WINTA" is used to group together the different social groups that are underrepresented in the programming and the overall professional sector.

👉An English translation must not include "F for Female", and must think about culturally translating accuratly !

👉It should always be used as an adjective and not as a noun !

👉 It is always used as an adjective and not as a noun -> it is referred to as "WINTA people".

post-scriptum :

Since the popularisation of the "FINTA" acronym in French-speaking circles creating new dynamics (including cis-appropriation), English-speaking circles using F for Female, further contextualisation is currently being written (TBP 2026.)