In the same way that Michelle Rodríguez, the actress of the Netflix series Against the Ropes, exploded on the networks with a definitive “my body is a revolution”, another Michellle Rodríguez, also Mexican but a linguist and with a second last name (Chiw) for stand out, defends that “language is the revolution”. A revolution of ideas. A revolution against an unequal social structure. And a revolution against gender canons.
This Michelle Rodríguez (adds her second last name, Chiw, to avoid doubt) is passionate about words, a graduate in Hispanic Literature from the University of Mexico but above all an expert in something that goes further. The inclusive language of the one who forms and instructs the new (and old) generations from the Linguistically speaking platform to prop up that, language, as “an essential tool to reduce prejudices among the people who listen to it and use it, fostering ideas and positive feelings towards all genders. And the non-genres”.
Petite, but energetic and with a powerful voice like her speech, she was the person chosen by The Social Hub (Luigi Esposito and Dario Furente) to lead the Linguistic Lunch (conference-debate-lunch) held at the restaurant of the Barcelona headquarters of this student residence platform that has become the meeting place for the next generation of change agents: students and entrepreneurs, digital nomads and local artists, all who want to learn, grow and make society better.
And for that, to improve with the first of the tools that we have at hand, language, Michelle Rodríguez Chiw led this meeting framed in the presentation of the LGTBQIA collective pride day acts (which she lengthens in an extensive LGGBTTTIQUA ) with artists such as Sandra Modrego (her work is a hymn to life and the beauty of the human experience, always assuming its nuances with apparently simple, colorful scenes that deal with themes such as love, desire, the body and the cosmos) or journalists like Yolanda Muelas (director of Acero y Metal Magazine) remembering that role of “bad cop” that the Royal Spanish Academy of Language has to “stop our feet” but noting that “the language is ours and we can use it as we want because we are we the speakers”.
With the extensive invitation to all (it could also be written with an at or with a simple e, but Michelle warns that the x is what is in trend right now) to “let inclusive language enter your life” I remembered that there are words that already by themselves they are inclusive and we should have citizenship, people, team people and humanity as the first on the list (out with man to refer to humanity!, he explains).
The Social Hub Barcelona, ??the new disruptive concept in the hospitality sector located in the Poblenou neighborhood of Barcelona, ??”supports and enjoys diversity by giving voice to all groups, especially the most marginalized under the new motto adopted for Pride 2023: No sleep till inclusion is real” explained those responsible for the marketing team. His is the idea of ??this Linguistic Lunch, the innovative format that combines short conferences and round tables with experts to enrich a meal where topics such as inclusiveness, technology and art are addressed, in which Stefania Talento, founder of the blog In
In that first discussion led by linguist Michelle Rodríguez Chiw, it was agreed that “inclusive language must be approached from a contrastive and diachronic linguistic perspective, explaining what it is and how to use it in everyday life”.
The Social Hub Barcelona, ??as host of the event, will continue with its programming that includes an extensive schedule of activities during this month to celebrate Pride month together under the motto No sleep till inclusion is real.
The space, which has become a platform to give voice to these types of discussions, highlighted the progress towards the acceptance of LGTBQIA rights, underlining that there is still much to be done, but pointing to linguistics as one of the effective tools to understand where we’re headed
