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The Power of Words Writing with accuracy and sensitivity
about a diverse world
Rachele KanigelSan Francisco State University
Choose one groupAfrican Americans Jews
People with disabilities Asian Americans
Latinos Transgender people
Gay and lesbian people Women
Arab Americans Muslims
Native Americans Immigrants
Categorize your wordsAcceptable Not sure Offensive
August 29, 1963
Feb. 17, 2012
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
Resource
http://ncdj.org/style-guide/
http://nahj.org/
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
Resource
http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender
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
Resource
http://www.glaad.org/reference
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
Resource
http://www.nlgja.org/stylebook/
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.
Other tips
• Be careful of puns when writing about sensitive issues
Other tips
• Be careful of the tone you use when writing about sensitive issues
Other tips
• Avoid stereotypes.
Tips
• When in doubt, ask your source.
Other resources
http://www.nabj.org/?styleguide
http://www.aaja.org/aajahandbook/
Diversitystyleguide.com
Questions?
