The most annoying word of 2017

Here it is again: the month of lists. Where things are declared with a bang, from shameful names to the most unfortunate day. But what I always particularly look forward to is everything that has to do with words. The quirkiest word of the year, the most disgusting word of the year, the craziest word, just the word and especially the most annoying word of the year. I heard it this morning on the news. The most annoying word of 2017 is ‘gender neutral‘.

You get that when you first talk about gender-neutral toilets for five months, then start a campaign about genderless children's clothing where the country's most popular department store contributes significantly (just read here what I had to say about Hema), then you just become gender tired. Why do we find it annoying? Because it feels too politically correct AND because it is a combination of Dutch and English, say the researchers from Wegmetdatwoord.org. We actually have a word for it in our mother tongue: gender neutral.

What else helps to evoke deep sighs from a conversation partner you’d rather quickly lose? Starting to talk about: standing in your power, telling how great a dad day is and just shining. No conversation guaranteed. And if they still don’t run away, then you start a deep discussion about being gender neutral and what you think about it.