Use the Language of an Ally
Language matters! It is a huge part of our culture, it is ever-changing, and the way we speak about people impacts our thoughts and feelings. Language also communicates to people how we value them. Here are some easy ways you can change the language you use to be more inclusive:
Avoid language that:
Enforces the stigma around mental health
Enforces disability stereotypes
Uses the male version as a default
Reinforces the gender binary
Appropriates people’s cultures
Avoid language that enforces the stigma around mental health
“That’s crazy” is one of the most common cringe worthy phrases I hear people use on a weekly basis. Even as someone who has tried to stop saying it, it creeps back into my vernacular.
Instead of using this phrase, think of what you are actually trying to say. I substitute phrases like, “That’s wild!”, “Weird”, or “How funny!” depending on what I really mean.
Avoid language that enforces disability stereotypes
“That’s lame” is a phrase usually meaning something is boring or not very exciting. Since the origin of the word lame means disabled or impaired, weak, or paralyzed, I choose to use a word that more accurately describes what I am trying to say. “That’s not very cool” is an easy substitute.
In addition, describing a disability as a defect like saying “birth defect” or using the word “handicap” views disabilities as a detriment versus a different way of interacting with the world. Instead use people-first language by saying a “person with a hearing impairment” versus “deaf person”. Of course, always listen to the language a person with a disability uses to describe themselves as the best reference.
Avoid language that uses the male version as the default
There are so many words in our language that default to the male version. We also see some words default to the female version which is equally problematic. Examples of that in the workplace include Hostess and Stewardess. Here are some examples of words that default to the male version and how we can make them gender neutral.
Mankind
Workmanship
Craftsmanship
Workmans’ comp
Fireman
You guys
What to say instead:
Humankind
Handiwork or Expertise
Craftship or Artistry
Workers’ compensation
Firefighter
Folks/You All/Ya’ll/Everyone
Avoid language that reinforces the gender binary
When we refer to groups using the gender binary by saying ladies and gentleman or using “he or she” in a written document instead of “they”, we are reinforcing the gender binary and excluding nonbinary and gender noncomforming folks. We also reinforce the gender binary when we assume people’s genders and refer to them as ma’am or sir. Instead of assuming we should simply use their name or substitute “the person” when their name is unknown.
Avoid language that appropriates people’s cultures
In North American English, one frequent example of this is culture appropriation of Indigenous people. In addition to not using Indigenous imagery and people as mascots, appropriating words that belong to that culture is problematic. This includes saying something is one’s spirit animal and calling a meeting a pow-wow. These words may feel cute but are really just offensive.
Avoid language that is code for something else
Coded language appears often in the workplace and is described as using seemingly race neutral terms to describe race. This commonly comes up when people are afraid to talk about race or are saying something that is racially biased but they want to say it in a coded way. “The diversity candidate” is a great example of this when a person may really mean “the Black candidate” or “the Hispanic candidate”. Another example is calling a group of people thugs when the group is predominately Black. This often came up when the media described Black Lives Matter marches in 2020. Coded language can be remedied by facing your racial biases, questioning them, and saying what you mean. Also, if you can’t say what you mean, you probably shouldn’t say it.
Be an Ally
These examples are just some of the ways you can make a difference as an ally by using supportive and inclusive language. There are many other ways that non-inclusive language presents itself in our everyday lives.
When you hear language that isn’t inclusive, it’s important to be an upstander and correct the person or redirect the conversation. Here are a few examples of what you can say:
Why did you use the word ___________ to describe that?
I say ___________ instead of _______________, to be more inclusive.
____________ isn’t the terminology we use anymore.
That language is offensive and unprofessional.
And language is always changing, so update your language as you learn something new. As Brene Brown says, “we are here to get it right, not to be right.” Now go out there and be an excellent ally!
