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This paper aims to provide some insight into the problem that French speakers face when it comes to what is referred to in English as "human rights." The use of the generic masculine droits de l'Homme (literally translated by "Man's rights"), to designate the whole of humanity is now being challenged by advocates of inclusive language, who seek to make women more visible so that they can benefit more fully from the said human rights. The author reviews the reasons and historical circumstances that led the expression droits de l'Homme to be used as a "neutral" masculine, before focusing on contemporary expressions (in France, Quebec and Switzerland) of the denunciation of the universality of the droits de l'Homme advocated by supporters of linguistic conservatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide some insight into the problem that French speakers face when it comes to what is referred to in English as "human rights." The use of the generic masculine droits de l'Homme (literally translated by "Man's rights"), to designate the whole of humanity is now being challenged by advocates of inclusive language, who seek to make women more visible so that they can benefit more fully from the said human rights. The author reviews the reasons and historical circumstances that led the expression droits de l'Homme to be used as a "neutral" masculine, before focusing on contemporary expressions (in France, Quebec and Switzerland) of the denunciation of the universality of the droits de l'Homme advocated by supporters of linguistic conservatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]