Inclusive Language: Terminology & Communication Tips

Before we get started, it’s important to highlight that inclusive terminology varies over time and from region to region. One thing that may be appropriate in one place or with one group of people, may be profoundly offensive in another scenario. Later on, we’ll share tips on how to navigate these situations. In the meantime, let’s recap some of the terminology Sienna shared in this lesson:

• BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color.

• Latino: refers to people from all of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Brazil

  • Latinx and Latine are gender-neutral terms to refer to this group, but they are not widely used by individuals within these communities

• Hispanic: refers to heritage from a Spanish-speaking country, including Spain.

• Indigenous peoples: refers to the descendants of individuals who first lived in a geographical region before people of different origins arrived and/or settled. When possible, refer to these groups by their specific community names. If you are making general statements or do not know their general names, you can use the following terms.

  • Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

  • Canada: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis

  • USA: Native American, Indigenous peoples of America

  • Central and South America/ Caribbean: Indígenas, Pueblos indígenas, Tainos

• Asian/Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI): includes individuals who have origins in Central Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands.

• Black/African American/Afro-Caribbean/African Diaspora:

  • Black refers to those with a shared identity and experience related to skin color and culture.

  • African American is widely used in the United States to refer to this group of people, but keep in mind that many people in this group feel disconnected from or do not identify with that term.

  • Afro-Caribbean refers to those who have ancestry in both africa and the Caribbean

  • African Diaspora refers to the voluntary and involuntary movement of Africans and their descendants to various parts of the world.

• Middle Eastern or North African (MENA): includes individuals who have origins in the Middle East or North Africa.

• White: refers to people of European ancestry.

• Roma/Romani: are a traditionally nomadic ethnic group who live mostly in Europe.
  

There are some terms that you should avoid when talking about race and ethnicity. At the end of this module, we’ll share a resource breaking them all down, but here are a few you should keep top of mind:

• Non-White

  • Instead, use BIPOC or more specific terms — in essence, language that doesn’t position Whiteness as the default

• Blacks

  • Instead, use Black, Black people, or more specific terms like Afro-Caribbean community

• Caucasian

  • Use White instead

• Colored people

  • BIPOC or a more specific term. This term is precise and preferred in some places, like South Africa.

Sex, gender, and sexual orientation are concepts that often get mixed up in people’s minds. Let’s quickly recap to make sure we understand their definitions before moving forward.

• Sex: is assigned at birth by a doctor based on biological characteristics like genitalia, hormones, and chromosomes

• Gender: is a social construct that dictates how a person should behave. Gender can be expressed along a spectrum from feminine to masculine.

• Sexual orientation: refers to romantic, emotional, and/or sexual attraction.

In conversations about these concepts, it’s important to highlight the LGBTQIA+ community. Let’s break down that acronym:

• Lesbian: refers to women who are attracted to other women.

• Gay: is a term that usually refers to men who are attracted to other men. It’s also an umbrella term for anyone attracted to those of the same gender.

• Bisexual: refers to someone who can be attracted to more than one gender.

• Transgender: serves as an umbrella term for all of those whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth. It’s important to know that a person’s gender identity doesn’t need to correlate with society’s expectations of sexuality. One can be a trans woman, for example, and also be a lesbian. Within the transgender category, some people might identify more specifically as:

  • Non-binary: describes genders that don't fall into one of the binary gender categories, male or female.

  • Gender non-conforming: refers to people who do not follow other people's ideas or stereotypes about how they should look or act based on the female or male sex they were assigned at birth.

  • Two-spirit: refers to a person who identifies as having both a masculine and a feminine spirit, and is used by some Indigenous people to describe their sexual, gender and/or spiritual identity.

  • Or something else!

• Queer or questioning: Queer is another umbrella term used to describe people of various gender identities and sexualities, mostly by those whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual or straight. Q can also stand for “questioning”, acknowledging those who are exploring their gender or sexual identity.

• Intersex: a general term used for a variety of situations in which a person is born with chromosomes, physical attributes, or hormones that don't fit the binary boxes of “female” or “male.”

• Asexual or aromantic: broadly identifies those who experience a partial or complete lack of sexual or romantic attraction.

• + : is a reminder that our understanding of human sexuality and gender is always growing and changing. It’s an inclusive way of representing gender and sexual identities that letters and words cannot yet fully describe.

Here are some terms you should avoid when talking to and about people from the LGBTQIA+ community:

• Homosexual: When used by those outside the LGBTQIA+ community, homosexual has often been used in harmful ways, like medical diagnoses or a pejorative (as with homo).

  • Instead, use their specific sexual orientation

• Transgendered/ A transgender/ Transexual/tranny/transvestite/hermaphrodite

  • Use Trans person or Transgender person instead

• Preferred name or Real name

  • Instead use the person’s chosen name. A person’s chosen name is their name, regardless of what they’ve formerly been called. Of course, there are contexts where this is appropriate, like with legal paperwork, but in general, just ask people for their name.

Take a look at the infographic resource for more information on inclusive language related to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Remember when Sienna mentioned that most disabilities aren’t super obvious? It is estimated that 70-80% of disabilities are invisible. There are a wide range of impairments or conditions not necessarily visible to others, which are not limited to, but include: mental health conditions; autism and other neurodivergences, cognitive impairments; hearing, vision and speech impairments; and energy-limiting conditions (such as fibromyalgia).

It’s important to keep this in mind when talking to and about people. Similarly, not all people with disabilities identify as disabled, while others might hold the disabled identity strongly. It’s always best not to assume someone’s identity or disability based on how they look. If you’re ever curious and the person is willing to disclose, simply asking about the terminology that they prefer is the best way to go.

In general, it’s best practice to use asset based language, which means avoiding words and phrases that look at people from a deficit lens that prioritizes what’s lacking or what’s wrong. To learn more about visible and invisible disabilities and neurodivergence, check out our course on Disabilities.

As promised, we’re going to highlight a few more terms to avoid when speaking to and about the disability community.

• Mentally challenged or retarded

  • Instead, say person with a developmental/intellectual/cognitive disability

• Person with Deafness or Person who is Deaf

  • Instead, you can just say Deaf person. The Deaf community is very diverse, but many do not consider being deaf a disability. Where possible, ask if a person or group uses identity-first language (Deaf person) or person-first language (person who is Deaf).

• Hearing-impaired or Person with hearing loss

  • Try person who is hard-of-hearing person. Remember to use asset-based language whenever possible.

• Visually challenged/ Partial sight/ Partial blindness/ Poor vision

  • Alternatively, use person who is visually impaired.

• Alcoholic/ Drug addict: While terms like “alcoholic” and “addict” may be used by those within these groups, including in the way they self-identify, as someone who does not have these disorders, the words “alcoholic” and “addict” are loaded, often inappropriately used, and better avoided.

  • Instead, try person with substance abuse disorder

When referring to someone’s age, avoid using stereotypes or words that may discriminate against people. A person’s age communicates the number of years they have spent alive and has no qualitative value. It does not communicate a person’s maturity, experience, or physical or mental capability. As Sienna mentioned, unnecessary reference to age can contribute to exclusion, ageism, or discrimination.

Let’s take a look at some best practices and words to avoid when talking to and about someone’s age.

• Millennial or Boomer as pejorative terms

  • Instead, use someone’s birth year

• The elderly, old people, or senior citizens

  • Instead, opt for older people

• Young adults or kids (used inaccurately to broadly describe young people)

  • Alternatively, use young people or youth

  • When referring to specific developmental phases, be specific with terms like adolescents, children, or babies

Income inequality is a major issue affecting nearly the entire world. One way to contribute to changing these inequalities, apart from working toward legislative reform and joining a movement, is to change the way you speak about it. Use specific, asset-based, person-first language when discussing income inequality. Avoid emphasizing negative connotations and emphasize asset-based language. For example, “people striving to overcome income inequality” rather than “lower-income people.”

It’s important to use precise language when talking about religion and spiritual beliefs. Let’s take a look at some key definitions:

• Religion: the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods. This term is strongly associated with organized groups or communities who believe in a common doctrine.

  • Christianity

  • Islam

  • Judaism

• Faith: Complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Also, the strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.

  • Example: Having faith that God will heal a sick family member.

• Belief: An acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists, especially without proof. Beliefs can span from religious doctrines to personal opinions.

Here are some general tips you should keep in mind when referring to these concepts and identities.

• Capitalize the names of all religions, religious groups, religious figures, deities, holy texts, holidays, and titles.

• Consider using person-first language

  • For example: use person who practices Sikhism rather than a Sikh, people who practice Islam rather than Muslims, or Jewish people rather than Jews.

• Avoid using words, images, or situations that reinforce religious stereotypes.

  • For example: “Don’t you wish you could just take your hijab off?” This phrase stereotypes Muslim women as being oppressed and unable to make the personal choice to wear (or not to wear) a hijab. OR “You’re an atheist? So what, you don’t believe in anything?” This implies that individuals who do not believe in God do not believe in anything. It fails to recognize the individual’s personal belief choice and attempts to impose ideologies onto the person about what is right or ide