By Matt Underwood El Salvador’s government, in a move that seems ripped from a dystopian novel, has reportedly imposed restrictions on the use of certain words and concepts. This isn’t about outlawing the terms outright in everyday conversation, but rather, it is a new style manual for educational materials and official documents. The focus is to scrub “feminism,” “diversity,” and, perhaps most concerning, anything related to climate change. The stated reasons, as far as they have been made public, are couched in vague notions of cultural values and clarity. But let’s be honest, it raises a lot of eyebrows, to say the least.
The core of this directive appears to be a shift in educational language. It’s not about silencing people in their daily lives, but about replacing words like “gender” with “sex,” specifically in its biological definition within school settings. This certainly limits conversations around gender identity and the complexities of social roles. This isn’t a ban on free speech; it’s a restructuring of the language used to educate the country’s youth. The overall impression is that of a government attempting to control the narrative, which, frankly, isn’t a good look. It feels like a ham-fisted attempt to dictate what can and cannot be discussed, a move that harks back to thought-control concepts straight out of a classic.
The cynical side of me can’t help but wonder if this is about something else entirely. Maybe it is about distracting from other issues or about something more insidious. It’s a tale as old as time: A government faces criticism and, in response, does something that is more for show than substance, and the people pay the price.
El Salvador, a country facing its own share of challenges, has just made things more difficult. It’s a country with a complex past, a diaspora community that has a strong voice, and a government that seems to be borrowing some of its playbook from the most regressive movements in the United States. This is a country with issues to face and has decided to pretend some things don’t exist by removing the words.
In fact, the influence of US culture wars is visible, as are the effects of the evangelical movement’s push for a conservative ideology that goes against the rights of women and the queer community. It is a clear attempt to align with an already existing conservative and religious ideology already prevalent in El Salvador. El Salvador’s move is a very clear sign of the times.
This move appears to be a direct reflection of a broader global trend of right-wing leaders adopting similar tactics. It’s about controlling what people think by controlling what they are allowed to say and what they can learn. The government’s intent isn’t to solve any actual problems but to shape the ideological landscape. The goal seems clear: to shut down conversations that don’t align with their agenda.
The argument that this promotes “clarity” is flimsy at best. How does stripping away the language of diversity and inclusion help anyone? It’s not about making things clearer; it’s about making them narrower. This type of censorship is, in the end, only designed to create an environment where certain ideas are simply unthinkable.
One can’t ignore the climate change denial aspect. El Salvador is a country very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The irony is staggering. Banning the term “climate change” while the country is on the frontlines of its impact shows a concerning lack of long-term vision. This is the kind of short-sighted thinking that puts everyone at risk.
And that’s not to mention that this move may or may not be about money and the desire to join the club, like Argentina. The hope for investment in exchange for political favors may also be a part of it.
Finally, and this is probably the most concerning, this kind of move isn’t just about El Salvador. It’s a warning. It’s a sign of the times. These things don’t happen in a vacuum. The tactics and ideologies that are taking root in El Salvador are gaining traction elsewhere. It’s a reminder that we all need to be vigilant about protecting free speech, diverse perspectives, and open dialogue. It’s a reminder that we all need to do more than just stand around in protest costumes, and not only when it comes to El Salvador.