Akteurinnen

Akteurinnen is the feminine plural form of Akteur and designates female actors, participants, or agents in a given context. The term is used to refer to individuals or groups that exert influence or take action within social processes. The corresponding masculine or gender-neutral form is Akteur/Akteure, while Akteurinnen specifically marks women.

In scholarly usage, Akteurinnen appear in the social sciences and humanities as bearers of action, decision-making power, or influence in political, economic, cultural, and civil-society contexts. They can be politicians, activists, business leaders, researchers, or representatives of organizations and networks. The concept often appears in discussions of agency and structure, where actors are seen as capable of shaping outcomes through their actions.

The term is frequently encountered in the framework of actor-network theory (ANT), which analyzes how both human and non-human actors participate in networks and how their interactions stabilize or transform social arrangements. In such analyses, Akteurinnen are treated as integral components of social networks, contributing to knowledge, resources, and meanings that circulate within the system.

Gender considerations influence how the term is used in writing. Because Akteurinnen denotes women, many style guides advocate pairing it with Akteure to achieve gender-inclusive language, for example Akteurinnen und Akteure. Some contexts prefer the feminine form alone to emphasize female participation, while others use neutral constructions or alternative inclusive forms.

See also: Akteur, Akteure, gender-inclusive language.