Language planning (gender and sexuality issues)

There are important gender and sexuality issues in language planning. Feminists have long documented sexism in language including that it ignores and narrowly defines women. Various strategies have been used to promote gender fair language. There are theoretical debates about the relationships between gender and language—does sexist language perpetuate sexism in society or just reflect it? Regardless, marginalized social groups such as gay and lesbians change language by coining new terms or reclaiming old ones in order to better represent themselves in language.