Browsing social media or reading innovative articles, you might come across a printed "letter" not present in our alphabet, but part of the international one, similar to an inverted "e". Visually, it looks like this: Ə.

This symbol is not a typo but currently represents the most inclusive way in the Italian language to encompass all gender identities, binary and non-binary.

This particular letter is called Schwa, and it has a sound similar to some dialects in southern Italy that often truncate word endings.

What is the schwa used for?

The Italian language, unlike English, does not have a neutral subject and uses the masculine as the predominant form in plurals, making the language less inclusive.

For example, if Mimix's audience identifies predominantly as female, in newsletters we opt for feminine language. However, grammar forces us to use the masculine even if the majority is female, thus excluding the female gender in favor of just one man.

We have chosen to speak in the feminine out of principle, but in the future, we may adopt the schwa to include all people without excluding anyone, regardless of gender identity.

When is it worth using the schwa?

Vera Gheno, an expert sociolinguist in the field of inclusive language use, adopts the schwa when appropriate to improve gender inclusivity without causing confusion. We want to take heed of her advice.

In the past, various symbols like asterisks, at signs, or slashes have been used to represent neutral gender, without considering that there is a symbol in the international alphabet with a related phoneme.

We are open to change, as we appreciate the evolution of people in all contexts.

Currently, we will adopt feminine language primarily for communication reasons. We will carefully monitor the composition of our audience and, over time, aim to fully reflect diversity and inclusivity in the personal care and facial wellness sector.

If you want to delve deeper into the topic of schwa and inclusive language, we recommend the very interesting podcast "Amare Parole" by Vera Gheno, in which she also uses the schwa in spoken language.

How does inclusion in an overextended plural make you feel? Does it bother you, or do you not pay attention to it?