The Importance of Language: Promoting Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity with Our Words
Ingrid Camacho, MHC
Language is an essential and necessary component of human connection. Language allows people to share their ideas, opinions, perspectives, cultures, and traditions. It is through language that societies and communities around the world are created and empowered. In the words of Voltaire and Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben, with great power comes great responsibility.
Just as language edifies, language can also be used to strip power and tear others down. Racism, discrimination, and marginalization are often perpetuated through the use of language and as a result, negatively impact marginalized groups and minority communities. These communities include people of color, LGBTQIA+, indigenous people, differently-abled individuals, senior citizens, and others.
According to The Guidelines for Inclusive Language, published by the Linguistic Society of America (LSA) (https://www.linguisticsociety.org/resource/guidelines-inclusive-language), inclusive language can be defined as language that “acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities. The use of inclusive language establishes mutual respect and consideration for others while creating an environment where everyone feels safe and secure. It is every person’s individual responsibility to ask themselves how their use of language contributes to harming another person and community and commit to inclusive language that promotes equity and diversity.
You might be asking yourself things like, how do I become more aware of the language I am using? or what are some examples of inclusive language that I can incorporate into my vocabulary? See the suggestions and resources below!
A few questions to consider:
Are the words or phrases that I am using rooted in stereotypes, stigmas, and/or other harmful perspectives?
Do I have a habit of making assumptions about a person’s gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic/racial identity, etc., and communicate that through the words/phrases I use when speaking with others?
Am I conveying messages of racism, sexism, classism, ableism, heterosexism, and/or oppression in the words/phrases I currently use?
Have I integrated feedback received from others whenever my words/phrases offended?
Some resource examples of inclusive language:
Department of Diversity Initiatives at USCA: Inclusive Language Guide - https://www.usca.edu/diversity-initiatives/training-resources/guide-to-inclusive-language/inclusive-language-guide/file
Inclusive Language Guide from The Family Institute at NorthWestern University - https://counseling.northwestern.edu/blog/inclusive-language-guide/
Gender Inclusive Language - https://www.mypronouns.org/inclusivelanguage
A Guide to Inclusive Language in the Workplace - https://www.idealist.org/en/careers/inclusive-language-workplace