Inclusive language

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A cardboard sign calling for inclusive language at a feminist protest in Madrid, 2013, with basic usage instructions Sign explaining inclusive language in spanish.jpg
A cardboard sign calling for inclusive language at a feminist protest in Madrid, 2013, with basic usage instructions

Inclusive language is a language style that seeks to avoid expressions that its proponents perceive as expressing or implying ideas that are sexist, racist, or otherwise biased, prejudiced, or insulting to particular group(s) of people; and instead uses language intended by its proponents to avoid offense and fulfill the ideals of egalitarianism, social inclusion and equity. Its aim is bias-free communication, that attempts to be equally inclusive of people of all ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, religious affiliations, abilities, and ages by communicating in a way that makes no assumptions about the receiver of such communication. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Its supporters argue that language is often used to perpetuate and spread prejudice and that creating intention around using inclusive language can help create more productive, safe, and profitable organizations and societies. [5] The term "political correctness" is sometimes used to refer to this practice, either as a neutral description by supporters, by commentators in general, or with negative connotations by its opponents. [6] Use of gender-neutral terminology has been controversial in languages where "all grammar is gendered", such as Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and German; some areas have banned its use. [7]

Inclusive language is usually adopted by following a language guide that lists words and expression not to use and substitutes for them. Language guides are used by many organizations, especially non-profits (at least in the United States). [8]

Bias

An important part of communicating in a bias-free manner is by making sure to engaging in meaningful conversations using bias-free language. The writer's word choice is vital in terms of effectively communicating in ways that do not offend the receiver. According to Locker, "Bias-free language is language that is sensitive to people's sex, race, age, physical condition and many other categories. Bias-free language does not discriminate and therefore includes all readers in a fair and friendly manner." [9]

Bias exists everywhere, even if it is not always acknowledged. If a verbal or written communication includes any of the following, it may be biased:

  1. Unsupported claims.
  2. Extreme or inappropriate language.
  3. For written text, there may be no clear author.
  4. Spoken communication may have a speaker with a poor reputation. [10]

These sources should be questioned for their bias because it could impact their validity in their points. Therefore, avoiding bias in all communication will ensure that the point is crystal clear and the speaker is trusted.

Scope

France

In French, a reference to a mixed-gender group of friends would traditionally be written as "amis", but a gender-neutral variation changed its spelling to "ami·e·s." However, in May 2021, the Minister for Education wrote to schools across the country to say that "so-called 'inclusive' writing should be avoided, which notably uses the midpoint to simultaneously reveal the feminine and masculine forms of a word used in the masculine when it is used in a generic sense." [11] [12]

Argentina

As of June 2022, the city government of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, banned teachers "from using any gender-neutral words during class and in communications with parents", on the grounds that it "violated the rules of Spanish and stymied students' reading comprehension". At least five organizations, "a mix of gay rights and civil rights groups", have filed lawsuits seeking to overturn" the ruling. [7] The governor of Buenos Aires province, Axel Kicillof, rejected the authority of the Royal Spanish Academy, citing the Argentine War of Independence as a reason. [13] Darío Villanueva Prieto, from the RAE, clarified that the RAE does not use the slang of Spanish language from the Iberian peninsula, but that it receives input from all countries in the world where the language is spoken. [14]

Uruguay

In December 2021, Uruguay's public education agency issued a memo to limit use of inclusive language. [15]

United States

Organizations in the U.S. with equity language guides include The Sierra Club, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, National Recreation and Park Association, Columbia University School of Professional Studies, University of Washington. [8] According to George Packer, most of these guides are based on other guides such as A Progressive's Style Guide, the Racial Equity Tools glossary, and others. [16]

Several tech companies promotes or provide inclusive language guides: Google, [17] [18] Apple, [19] Microsoft, [20] IBM, [21] Cisco Talos, [22] SAP. [23]

Examples

English

Inclusive language in English, at least in the United States, goes well beyond gender inclusivity, the following with varying levels or usage.

Rationale for suggested language changeLanguage or expression to be avoided, according to proponentsReplacement language proposed by proponents
To avoid implied sexism or heteronormativity with Gender-neutral language
  • Steward/stewardess
  • Board of aldermen
  • Use of you guys to refer to a group that includes women [6]
  • Manhole
  • Manpower
  • Manned
  • Assuming "he" or "she" based on occupation or spouse's gender
  • Flight attendant
  • City council
  • Gender-neutral marked plural, such as you all
  • Maintenance hole, utility hole, access point, service chamber
  • Staffing
  • Crewed, staffed
  • Singular "they", or "he or she"
To avoid sexism in any implication that women should follow "traditional" gender roles, are in any way unequal to men, are valued primarily as wives or sex objects, or that the unpaid work of women is less important than paid work
  • Girl (for an adult)
  • Miss or Mrs.
  • Housewife
  • Young woman
  • Ms. or dropping honorifics entirely
  • homemaker
To avoid terminology that is disempowering, has negative connotations, or is subject to a euphemism treadmill with regard to
  • Race
  • Caste
  • Disability
  • Immigration status
  • Housing status
  • Health status
Avoid negative stereotypes of ethnic groups
  • To bargain down
  • To renege
  • To cheat or rip off
  • A police van
Avoiding racism, colonialism, and religious intolerance, whether overtly or by historical association
Avoid sizeism and body shaming "fat", "large", possibly "plus-sized model" or "plus-size clothing" in women's fashion"curvy" or simply talk about "women of all sizes"
Avoid insulting human dignity by emphasizing the humanity of individuals rather than group label
  • "He is a gay"
  • "The demented"
  • "He is a gay person"
  • "People with dementia" [27]
To avoiding implied racism or colonialism by using indigenous names instead of names used by colonizersIndian, Bombay, primitive culturesNative American (see Native American name controversy), Mumbai (see Renaming of cities in India, Geographical renaming, and British Isles naming dispute), early cultures
Avoid offending non-Christians and non-believers (see War on Christmas)
  • Wishing strangers (whose religion is unknown) "Merry Christmas"
  • School break called "Christmas Vacation"
  • Numbering years with BC/AD meaning "before Christ" and "the year of the Lord" (anno Domini)
  • "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings"
  • Schools scheduling "Winter Vacation"
  • Numbering years with BCE/CE meaning "before common era" and "common era"
To avoid implied transphobia and binary genderism Using "he" or "she" based on appearance or nameAsking people what pronouns they prefer to be addressed by, or introduce oneself with one's own gender pronouns (e.g. "My name is Chris and my pronouns are he/him/his.")
Taking a sex-positive position and avoiding slut-shaming Prostitute Sex worker
Avoid associations with slavery Master/slave (technology) Primary/secondary, leader/follower
Avoid association between ownership of animals and ownership of people (slavery) [28] and in general anthropocentrism Pet ownerPet guardian, [28] pet parent [29]
Avoid stigma promoting discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS CleanHIV negative
Avoiding stigma with autism, and seeing various neurological conditions not as diseases to be cured, but differences to be embraced
  • Terms referring to people with autism
  • "healthy" or "normal"
Comments about personal appearance might be interpreted as lookism or sexual harassment, depending on the context.

Impact

Inclusion and divisiveness

Political correctness and inclusive language both focus on attempting to use neutral terms and expressions to influence psychological and social forces [31] to combat prejudices, stereotypes, etc. However, what may be, and in many cases already has, happened is that while some markets and audiences embrace the new language, others react against it (an example being the alleged "War on Christmas"). Whether businesses and organizations embrace or reject the language, they risk alienating the opposing side. [31] [32] Thus inclusive language has become part of "culture wars". [33]

Other concerns

Journalist George Packer makes a number of criticisms of inclusive language as used in the U.S.

Replacing vivid language with jargon, while failing to deliver on its goal of creating empathy
Packer compares a passage from Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo with the same text rewritten in inclusive language, and asks if equity language does "what it claims to do" -- i.e. create more empathy for Sita and her struggles than Boo does in her language use.
OriginalInclusive language
The One Leg's given name was Sita. She had fair skin, usually an asset, but the runt leg had smacked down her bride price. Her Hindu parents had taken the single offer they got: poor, unattractive, hard-working, Muslim, old—"half-dead, but who else wanted her", as her mother had once said with a frown. [8] [34] Sita was a person living with a disability. Because she lived in a system that centered whiteness while producing inequities among racial and ethnic groups, her physical appearance conferred an unearned set of privileges and benefits, but her disability lowered her status to potential partners. Her parents, who were Hindu persons, accepted a marriage proposal from a member of a community with limited financial resources, a person whose physical appearance was defined as being different from the traits of the dominant group and resulted in his being set apart for unequal treatment, a person who was considered in the dominant discourse to be "hardworking", a Muslim person, an older person. In referring to him, Sita's mother used language that is considered harmful by representatives of historically marginalized communities. [8]

Packer notes that Boo's book was written in 2012 before the new language guidelines emerged, and worries what the new rules will and are doing to good writing. "Shelf upon shelf of great writing might go the way of 'blind' and 'urban'" (both forbidden in language guideline). "Open Light in August or Invisible Man to any page and see how little would survive." [8]

Banning not only offensive language, but more and more harmless words and expressions.
Using the Sierra Club equity guidelines, Packer notes that it is not just terms like "welfare queen", or expressions like "Jew them down" that are banished, but a very large number of descriptive terms: "urban", "vibrant", "hardworking", "brown bag" (subtly racist) "the poor" (classist), "battle" and "minefield" (disrespectful of veterans), "field" or "fieldwork" (could be associated with slavery), "migrant" (no reason given). Others include "prisoner" (replaced by "a person experiencing the criminal-justice system"), "gentrification", "legal resident", "food stamps", "gun control", "congresswoman", and "expat". [8]
Imprecise
Replacing "felon" with "justice-involved person" (the San Francisco Board of Supervisors); "fieldwork" with "practicum" (the Southern California's School of Social Work). Imprecise, unclear language has the advantage of being "less likely to offend", whereas "vivid imagery, strong statements" -- what makes up good writing -- "convey painful truths". [8]
Elitist
The language guides defend their edicts of inclusive language by arguing language is always changing, "evolving". But inclusive language has not "emerged organically from the shifting linguistic habits of large numbers of people" or even public debate. Its changes "are handed down in communiqués written by obscure 'experts' who purport to speak for vaguely defined 'communities'".

And not only do the changes come without any transparent discussion, they come "with a suddenness and frequency that keep the novitiate off-balance".

People of color becomes standard usage until the day it is demoted, by the American Heart Association and others, for being too general. The American Cancer Society prefers marginalized to the more "victimizing" underresourced or underserved—but in the National Recreation and Park Association's guide, marginalized now acquires "negative connotations when used in a broad way. However, it may be necessary and appropriate in context. If you do use it, avoid 'the marginalized' and don't use marginalized as an adjective." Historically marginalized is sometimes okay; marginalized people is not. [8]

An American-led project, and serves as a substitute for actual "material forms of progress" to help those it purports to help.
By toning down (or attempting to tone down) harsh language, inclusive language may make it easier to avoid facing "squarely the wrongs they want to right, which is the starting point for any change". [8]

From a jumping-off point of a The Lancet quote specifying "bodies with vaginas have been neglected" rather than "cisgender women," a NLM study claims that rather than mere elaboration to specify a subset of women in order to be more accommodating of people who identify as transgender, this is "desexing language when describing female reproduction" and represents the broader "avoidance of sexed terms" such as "mothers." Hence, engaging in language alteration when the sex of the person is relevant risks "decreasing overall inclusivity; dehumanizing; including people who should be excluded; being imprecise, inaccurate or misleading; and disembodying and undermining breastfeeding." [35]

See also

Related Research Articles

Singular <i>they</i> Gender-neutral English pronoun

Singular they, along with its inflected or derivative forms, them, their, theirs, and themselves, is a gender-neutral third-person pronoun. It typically occurs with an indeterminate antecedent, in sentences such as:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Psychological Association</span> Scientific and professional organization

The American Psychological Association (APA) is the main professional organization of psychologists in the United States, and the largest psychological association in the world. It has over 157,000 members, including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students. It has 54 divisions, which function as interest groups for different subspecialties of psychology or topical areas. The APA has an annual budget of around $125 million.

Gender-neutral language is language that avoids assumptions about the social gender or biological sex of people referred to in speech or writing. In contrast to most other Indo-European languages, English does not retain grammatical gender and most of its nouns, adjectives and pronouns are therefore not gender-specific. In most other Indo-European languages, nouns are grammatically masculine or grammatically feminine, or sometimes grammatically neuter, regardless of the actual gender of the referent.

Androcentrism is the practice, conscious or otherwise, of placing a masculine point of view at the center of one's world view, culture, and history, thereby culturally marginalizing femininity. The related adjective is androcentric, while the practice of placing the feminine point of view at the center is gynocentric.

Gender neutrality, also known as gender-neutralism or the gender neutrality movement, is the idea that policies, language, and other social institutions should avoid distinguishing roles according to people's sex or gender. This is in order to avoid discrimination arising from the impression that there are social roles for which one gender is more suited than another. The disparity in gender equality throughout history has had a significant impact on many aspects of society, including marketing, toys, education and parenting techniques. In order to increase gender neutrality in recent years, there has been a societal emphasis on utilizing inclusive language and advocating for equality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">APA style</span> Academic style and writing format

APA style is a writing style and format for academic documents such as scholarly journal articles and books. It is commonly used for citing sources within the field of behavioral and social sciences, including sociology, education, nursing, criminal justice, anthropology, and psychology. It is described in the style guide of the American Psychological Association (APA), titled the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. The guidelines were developed to aid reading comprehension in the social and behavioral sciences, for clarity of communication, and for "word choice that best reduces bias in language". APA style is widely used, either entirely or with modifications, by hundreds of other scientific journals, in many textbooks, and in academia. The current edition is its seventh revision.

Parenthetical referencing is a citation system in which in-text citations are made using parentheses. They are usually accompanied by a full, alphabetized list of citations in an end section, usually titled "references", "reference list", "works cited", or "end-text citations". Parenthetical referencing can be used in lieu of footnote citations.

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Generic antecedents are representatives of classes, referred to in ordinary language by another word, in a situation in which gender is typically unknown or irrelevant. These mostly arise in generalizations and are particularly common in abstract, theoretical or strategic discourse. Examples include "readers of Wikipedia appreciate their encyclopedia", "the customerwho spends in this market".

Gender in Bible translation concerns various issues, such as the gender of God and generic antecedents in reference to people. Bruce Metzger states that the English language is so biased towards the male gender that it restricts and obscures the meaning of the original language, which was more gender-inclusive than a literal translation would convey. Wayne Grudem disagrees, believing that a translation should try to match the words of the original language rather than introduce the translator's opinion as to whether the original words meant to include both sexes or not, and that trying to be gender-neutral results in vague and contorted writing style. Michael Marlowe argues from a third standpoint, that the cultures in the Bible were patriarchal. The topic has theological and political undercurrents. Paul Mankowski says that inclusive-language translators are bowing to feminist political taboos rather than trying to translate accurately, while Marmy Clason says that their opponents are motivated by hostility to feminism rather than fidelity to the original meaning.

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References

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  28. 1 2 Opinion - Dog "Owner" vs "Guardian" - Words Matter
    The use of the word "guardian" started in the San Francisco Bay area with an organization called In Defense of Animals (IDA). The IDA was founded in 1999 by Dr. Elliot Katz, who equated animal ownership with human slavery, declaring that we don't "own" our pets, we simply have "guardianship" of them. Dr. Katz and his compatriots in the movement claim that the word "ownership" implies a slave/slave-master relationship. He opines that slave-masters were, by definition, cruel, so calling oneself an "owner" presumes cruelty.
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