Resumen de Non-sexist Spanish policies: an attempt bound to fail?

Mercedes Bengoechea Bartolomé

• My aim in this paper is to analyse Spanish non-sexist language reform from a language-planning perspective. Supportive of the intent of the official policy, I will first criticize it for its failure to analyze the conditions in which it is to be implemented and for the lack of provision for its implementation. I will also show the tensions between two different types of policies carried out within the State – in favour of non-sexist language but, simultaneously, in favour of complying with la Academia Española [‘the Spanish Academy’], which opposes it. I then will discuss likely reasons why, in spite of the aforementioned failures, non-sexist language policy and planning in Spain have achieved relative success, as manifested in verbal usage and in attitudes.