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The Power of Words Writing with accuracy and sensitivity
about a diverse world
Rachele KanigelSan Francisco State University
kanigel@sfsu.edu
Choose one groupAfrican Americans Jews
People with disabilities Asian Americans
Latinos Transgender people
Gay and lesbian people Women
Arab Americans Muslims
Native Americans Immigrants
Wheelchair-bound/confined to a wheelchair
• Why not?: These terms describe people only in relationship to a piece of equipment, not as individuals
• Inaccurate: Wheelchairs actually enable people who use them
• Instead say: A person who uses a wheelchair
Illegal alien, illegal immigrant, illegals
• Why not?: You are effectively saying the individual, as opposed to the actions the person has taken, is unlawful.
• Inaccurate: People aren’t illegal; actions are. Instead say: undocumented worker or undocumented immigrant.
biologically male, genetically male, born a man
• Why not? These are all problematic terms. A person's sex is determined by a number of factors, not just genetics.
• Inaccurate: People are born babies - they are not "born a man" or "born a woman.”
• Instead say: transgender, trans man, trans woman
sex change, pre-operative, post-operative
• Why not? Referring to a "sex-change operation," or using terms such as "pre-operative" or "post-operative,” suggests that one must have surgery in order to transition.
• Inaccurate: Changing gender is a process that may or may not include surgery
• Instead say: transition, sex-reassignment surgery and don’t focus on surgery unless your subject does
Tips for Reporting on Transgender People
• Always use a transgender person's chosen name. • When possible, ask transgender people which pronoun
they would like you to use. • If you can’t ask the source, use the pronoun that is
consistent with the person's appearance and gender expression. For example, if a person wears a dress and uses the name Susan, feminine pronouns are usually appropriate.
• Never put quotation marks around a transgender person's chosen name or the pronoun that reflects that person's gender identity.
Source: GLAAD Media Reference Guide
gay marriage, same-sex marriage
• Why not? While these terms are commonly used by mainstream media organizations, many lesbian and gay people find them offensive because they suggest “gay marriage” is different from marriage between a man and woman
• Instead use: marriage equality• Example: Marriage equality is now the law of
the land
commit suicide
• Why not? The verb commit with suicide suggests a criminal act.
• Inaccurate: Laws against suicide have been repealed in the United States and many other places.
• Instead say: killed himself, took her own life or died by suicide.
Birth defect, defect
• Offensive: A defect is defined as an imperfection or shortcoming. Many people consider such terms offensive when describing a disability as they imply the person is deficient or inferior to others.
• Instead use: Name the condition or describe the disability.
• Example: She was born with cerebral palsy.
Sexual preference
• Why not: The term "sexual preference" suggests that being lesbian, gay or bisexual is a choice and therefore can and should be "cured.”
• Instead use: sexual orientation
afflicted with/stricken with/suffers from/victim of
• Why not: These terms carry the assumption that a person with a disability is suffering or has a reduced quality of life.
• Inaccurate: Not every person with a disability suffers, is a victim or is stricken.
• Instead: Use neutral terms.• Example: He has muscular dystrophy or She
was born with a heart condition.
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