|
Today’s Tip: Neutral Language
Susan’s boss, trying to
inspire the troops, talks about how everyone will benefit
from upcoming changes if he is willing to adapt.
A campaign worker opines that the super delegates should be
locked in a room and the selected candidate not be let out
until he is confirmed.
These are typical examples of the exclusionary language.
Both these cases happen to be non-gender neutral – the type
we perhaps most often hear. In the first the boss implies
the men can benefit if they adapt and women aren’t addressed
or included at all. In the second, similar to an actual
statement in the news this weekend, the implication is that
the chosen candidate will be a man. In this second case, the
speaker tried to claim he meant the “universal he” (not a
specific gender) but the damage had already been done and
his credibility weakened.
Is this simply political correctness or is it a legitimate
issue or concern? The answer is yes; it can at times be
political correctness, but much of the time it is a
legitimate issue.
Gender is just one of the ways we slant our language.
Religion, culture, political affiliation – many other labels
are used to exclude at various times. Problems caused by the
lack of a gender-neutral pronoun go back centuries, leading
some to claim the “universal he”. Our Declaration of
Independence states “all men are created equal”. This sounds
great, but under our Constitution “other people” (i.e.
slaves) counted as 3/5 of a person and women didn’t count at
all. This generated a lot of hard feelings. As a result,
many people are sensitized to language that includes and/or
excludes them.
Why do we want to use neutral language? How does it impact
our communications?
We all have a need to feel valued and we like to feel
included. Some of us are more sensitive to these issues than
others, whether from a history of being excluded or a
personal belief system. We don’t always know how others will
react to language that is perceived to be exclusive.
Therefore, the more important it is we get our point across,
the more important it is we select our words carefully so
they do not unintentionally exclude others and create a wall
between us.
If we are in the habit of using a “universal he” or other
exclusionary language, we can break the habit. If you are
unsure how often you use it, try (temporarily) switching to
a “universal she”, taking you out of your comfort zone. Once
we are aware of how often we use such language, we can then
more easily focus on eliminating it.
It is also, always, important, that we temper our
sensitivity. Just as someone might not realize their words
offend us, we cannot be sure of the speaker’s motive –
whether it is a thoughtless remark or intentional.
How could Susan’s boss and the campaign worker have made
their point without risking excluding and alienating others?
The boss could have said that everyone who adapts will
benefit. And the campaign worker could have said no one
should come out until a candidate has been selected.
Remember… it’s all in how you say it!
If you have a specific
communication issue you would like to see addressed in this
forum, let Sherry know by contacting her at
sherry@thewattsconnection.com.
Let Sherry Help You:
Sherry often speaks to groups interested in
learning how they improve their communication skills. If you
know of a group looking for speakers, ask her how she can
tailor a program to their specific needs.
If you want to learn more about how coaching can help you
take your communications to the next level, Sherry offers a
complimentary coaching session designed to help you
experience coaching and see if it is right for you.
You can contact Sherry at
sherry@thewattsconnection.com.
Subscribe now:
If you liked what you read in this issue,
we invite you to:
-
Subscribe and receive this e-zine
once/month, send an email to
info@thewattsconnection.com
with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. You
will not receive another e-zine from me unless you send
the email asking to subscribe.
You will be able to unsubscribe at any time by
sending an email with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the
subject line. FRIEND: As we discussed, I have
already added you to the subscription list, so you do
not need to respond unless you decide to unsubscribe.
-
Contact us and let us know how the tip
helped you.
|
