Inclusive Language Matters
Table of Contents What is Inclusive Language........................................................... Where do I Start?........................................................................... Free Speech & Hate Speech........................................................... Person-First and Identity-first Language....................................... Pronouns........................................................................................ Gender-Neutral Language............................................................. The Use of Slurs............................................................................. Resources.......................................................................................
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What is inclusive language, and why should I use it?
According to the Linguistic Society of America, “inclusive language acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities.”1 It is used to avoid unintentional marginalization, offense, misrepresentation, or the perpetuation of stereotypes and should integrate intersectionality.1
• Understand the gravity of language Un-inclusive language can be a manifestation and confirmation of oppressive ideologies, which reinforces the systemic and social imbalances of power and privilege that give rise to discrimination.2 •
Recognize intent and effect The intent of our actions and words are inconsequential if they perpetuate marginalization, oppression, or disrespect of those around us.3,4 As mentioned above, what you say can have a large impact on those around you, so it’s important to be conscious of your language.
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Where do I start?
1. Recognize that altering your language is just a starting point itself Altering your language is just one of many ways to approach intersectional advocacy and activism, or to create a safe and supportive environment. 2. Listen to others! Use the language that individuals use for themselves. It’s crucial to understand that this language does not always apply to every member of a specific identity, or community. Different people may use different words to describe themselves – never correct anyone on what they use to identify themselves! 3. Familiarize yourself with terminology/best practices Please remember that it is never a marginalized person’s responsibility to educate you. 4. Remember that mistakes happen It’s okay to make mistakes, but it’s also important to apologize and to do it effectively. In The Anatomy of an Apology, activist Rania El-Mugammar outlines how best to apologize following a problematic action. In a nutshell: • Acknowledge the mistake • Allow affected folks to process and experience their emotions in response • Focus on the harm that has been caused – not on your own feelings of guilt • Take accountability for your actions, and change your behaviour going forward • Apologize – focus not on receiving forgiveness, but on allowing those affected to heal
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Free Speech & Hate Speech Hate speech may be defined as any form of expression directing abuse, promoting discrimination, or inciting violence towards a person or group on the basis of identity, including race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and more.5,6,7 Although hate speech is often dismissed as insignificant, it has historically been a precursor to both individual and societal violence.8,9 It is a manifestation and reinforcer of oppressive ideologies and social power imbalances that make up the status quo. As a result, it can cause psychological distress and erode the self-esteem and personal dignity of those it is directed at.10 Thus, the consequences of hate speech, to an individual and broader society, far outweigh the benefits of preserving it under free speech. Legislation against hate speech is a crucial and protective measure that preserves individuals’ and groups’ right to a life of dignity, free from the harm and hatred that is inflicted by violent language.10
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Person-First Language & Identity-First Language • Person-First Language (PFL)
In PFL, you put the person first and their disability after (e.g. “person with a disability”).11 This is seen as a way to centre a person’s humanity and decentre their disability.11
• Identity-First Language (IFL)
In IFL, you put the disability first and the person after (e.g. “disabled person”), and this is used to reinforce the idea that someone’s disability is a part of their identity.11
Though people are often taught that PFL is “correct” and IFL is “incorrect”, this is not always the case.11 In fact, many people within the disabled community have differing preferences; some individuals prefer PFL, while others prefer IFL.11 As such, it’s crucial that you listen to the language that individuals use for themselves and model your language accordingly – and when someone indicates which type of language they prefer, never tell them that their preference is incorrect.12
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Pronouns
Pronouns are used to refer to a person you are talking about, and are a form of gender expression. As a result, using a person’s correct pronouns is genderaffirming and a basic respect that must be extended to all trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming folks, just as it is extended to cis folks.13,14 Misgendering a trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming person is worse than misgendering a cis person – it can often impact that person’s self-esteem and mental health, as it may be a frequent occurrence, or could send the message that trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming identities are invalid.15
Important Notes: 1. The term “preferred pronouns” is problematic, as it suggests that using the correct pronouns for those with non-cis identities is a preference and not a need.16 2. Some folks may use different pronouns in different places or around different people because they are not out in those places or to those people.17 In these situations, it’s crucial to use the pronouns that they are currently using, because outing them would be unfair and potentially dangerous.17 3. If you make a mistake, it’s usually best to apologize and move on, because drawing a lot of attention to your mistake could make the person feel uncomfortable and invalidated.18
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Gender-Neutral Language
Using gender-neutral language is an important step in creating an environment that is inclusive to gender non-conforming and non-binary folks.19 For example, a commonly used gendered term we use is “guys,” which is easily replaced by “everyone”, “friends”, or “folks”.19 Further, certain gendered statements, such as “the achievements of mankind,” can reinforce subconscious biases that place cis men at the top of the social hierarchy.19 The use of gender-neutral language is especially important when it comes to topics such as reproductive justice, where we often talk solely about cis women but, in doing so, exclude non-binary, gender non-conforming, and trans folks.20
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The Use of Slurs
Words don’t have meaning without context; a strong example of this is in the case of slurs. Slurs are derogatory language, often used amid physical violence, that were created to verbally reinforce and normalize the dehumanization and exploitation of a marginalized community.21 Members of marginalized communities often reclaim slurs and use them amongst themselves ironically or as terms of endearment.20 It’s important to remember that the use of slurs is a personal choice by members of marginalized communities. This is seen with the n-word within the black community, the b-word amongst women, and the f-word amongst 2SLGBTQ+ community. 22 This, however, does not give people outside of any given identity the license to do the same; outside of the relationship between marginalized people, slurs reinforce the exploitative histories they were created from and the systemic power imbalances that were created from said histories.21 The Case of the N-Word The decision for a black person to include or not to include the n-word in their vocabulary is personal and valid. The decision for any non-black person to include the n-word in their vocabulary is violent. As colonialism remains a part of our history and systematic racism continues, the n-word spoken by an oppressor is oppressive. 21 It’s important to remember, that under no circumstances is it appropriate for non-black (white or not) folk to use the n-word; this includes instances where the n-word is used in a song, a non-black person has ‘gotten permission’ to say it, or there are no black people present to take offence.22 Some words are only valid within certain relationships and within a certain context; the n-word is only valid within relationships between black folk who share a cultural and experiential context.23 The n-word challenges a world where black culture (i.e. language, dances, music, style etc.) is regularly co-opted by non-black people. If you feel wronged and even discriminated against because you are unable to freely say the n-word, understand that this feeling is rooted in privilege; because all other words and actions are accessible to you, the case of the n-word is unique.23 -8-
Resources This is a glossary of terms you may hear in anti-oppressive discourse and spaces, developed by The Anti-Violence Project.
This article, written by Mecca Mustafa, explains why non-Black folks should not use African American Vernacular English (AAVE).
This resource was created by National Center for Transgender Equality and explains respectful communication with trans folks.
This resource was created by Bob Joseph, an Indigenous author, and explains much of the terminology related to the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
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Lydia Brown, an autistic activist and blogger, developed this comprehensive resource on ableist language and slurs, which includes alternative language choices.
This list is co-created and heavily contributed to by Black people, nonBlack people of color, disabled people, neurodivergent people, and trans, gnc (gender non-conforming), and gender non-binary people. It was made to explain certain AAVE, ableist, and gendered/trans-antagonistic language.
This article contains a number of gender-neutral terms and phrases that can be used to replace gendered statements.
Ta-Nehisi Coates explains the belonging of certain words to certain people – specifically in the context of who can say certain slurs, and why.
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References
1. Linguistic Society of America. Guidelines for Inclusive Language. Available from: https://www. linguisticsociety.org/resource/guidelines-inclusive-language 2. Marcoccio K. Identifying Oppression in Language: The Power of Words. Canadian Social Work Review / Revue Canadienne De Service Social. 1995; 12(2): 146-158. Available from: http:// www.jstor.org/stable/41669593 3. Utt J. Intent vs. Impact: Why Your Intentions Don’t Really Matter. Available from: https:// everydayfeminism.com/2013/07/intentions-dont-really-matter/ 4. Ontario Human Rights Commission. 2. What is “discrimination”?. Available from: http://www. ohrc.on.ca/en/iii-principles-and-concepts/2-what-discrimination 5. Curtis W. Hate Speech. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/hate-speech 6. Oxford Dictionary. Hate Speech. Available from: https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/ hate_speech 7. European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). Hate speech and violence. Available from: https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-andintolerance/hate-speech-and-violence 8. Guterres A. As the wildfire of hate speech spreads, fighting it must be a job for everybody. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/26/as-the-wildfire-of-hatespeech-spreads-fighting-it-must-be-a-job-for-everybody 9. Roginsky A, Tsesis A. Hate speech, volition, and neurology. Journal of Law and the Biosciences. 2016; 3(1): 174-177. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fjlb%2Flsv058 10. Gelber K, McNamara J. Evidencing the harms of hate speech. Social Identities. 2016; 22(3); 324-341. Available from: https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent. cgi?article=3288&context=lhapapers 11. @coffeespoonie. A Brief Word On My Preference for Identity-First Language. Available from: https://medium.com/@coffeespoonie/ifl-vs-pfl-my-preference-332b3358e89f
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12. PRIDE Industries. Why Words Matter. Available from: https://prideindustries.wordpress. com/tag/identity-first-language/ 13. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus Resource Center. Gender Pronouns. Available from: https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/ 14. Smart Sex Resource. Gender identity & expression. Available from: https://smartsexresource. com/topics/gender-identity-expression 15. Zimman L. Trans Pronoun FAQ, Part 1. Available from: https://medium.com/trans-talk/ trans-pronoun-faq-part-1-e96b5d10d425 16. Zimman L. Trans Pronoun FAQ, Part 3. Available from: https://medium.com/trans-talk/ trans-pronoun-faq-part-3-b542d93f7fde 17. Zimman L. Trans Pronoun FAQ, Part 2. Available from: https://medium.com/trans-talk/ trans-pronoun-faq-part-2-361819b0b895 18. Finn E. How misgendering persists and how cis people can prevent it. Available from: http:// trail.pugetsound.edu/?p=16849 19. Corcione A. How to Use Gender-Neutral Words. Available from: https://www.teenvogue.com/ story/how-to-use-gender-neutral-words 20. Van Horn C. Why Gender Neutral Language is Crucial in the Abortion Conversation. Available from: https://www.allure.com/story/abortion-gender-neutral-language-transgender-mennonbinary 21. Starkey B. If you truly knew what the N-word meant to our ancestors, you’d NEVER use it. Available from: https://theundefeated.com/features/if-you-truly-knew-what-the-n-wordmeant-to-our-ancestors-youd-never-use-it/ 22. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Pejorative Language. Available from: https://www.iep. utm.edu/pejorati/ 23. Random House. Ta-Nehisi Coates on words that don’t belong to everyone | We Were Eight Years In Power Book Tour [Internet]. [Place unknown]: [Random House]; 2017 Nov 7. Streaming video: 0:04:58 min. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=QO15S3WC9pg
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