We need to be sensitive when we talk or write to people:
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A lot of the discussion around respect and sensitivity has got mixed up with ideas around 'political correctness' - which is not helpful or accurate.
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Here's a very helpful guide to writing in a respectful and sensitive way:
How to Make Your Writing More Sensitive - and Why It Matters
Here's the very clear conclusion:
What about Political Correctness?
If you Google “political correctness,” this is the definition you’ll get: “conformity to prevailing liberal or radical opinion, in particular by carefully avoiding forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against.”
But this definition doesn’t cover its negative connotations. Many people interpret political correctness as the idea of having to carefully consider every word they say – or write – for fear of being criticized if they make a mistake. This is a complex discussion that we won’t get into here, but suffice it to say that trying to write in a sensitive way is not quite the same thing as promoting political correctness – at least in the second sense.
When we talk about sensitivity, our goal is not to establish strict rules for writers to follow or punish anyone for nonconformity; it’s to help us all think critically about our own writing and its effects on the people who read it. What we’re promoting is respect for our audience, and the recognition that their perspectives may be different from our own.
Empathy + Flexibility = Sensitivity
In this article we’ve provided some basic guidelines for how to write about various topics in a sensitive way. But we recognize that they aren’t all hard-and-fast rules, and the “right” way to write something often depends on the context of each situation. This is why it’s so important to evaluate everything on a case-by-case basis.
If you’re ever in doubt about how you should represent a certain individual or group, the best thing to do is seek out their perspective. How do they prefer to be portrayed? What words and ideas do they find offensive? Not all members of a given group will agree on these things, but you can always try to find a consensus or a recommendation from a trustworthy source.
It’s true that this level of consideration and critical thinking requires extra work, but it’s worth it. And the truth is that there isn’t actually any other option. Every choice we make in our content will reflect a certain position; there’s no such thing as truly neutral language.
This is why we have to choose our words carefully, and make sure that we’re communicating positive ideas and values rather than potentially harmful ones. Ultimately, prioritizing sensitivity, respect, and empathy is in everyone’s best interest – no matter the context.
Sources & Additional Resources
NASAA’s Inclusive Language Guide
The APA’s Inclusive Language Guidelines
The APA’s guide to writing about sexual orientation
Council of Europe’s guide to sex and gender
Stanford’s Disability Language Guide
Buffer’s guide to inclusive language in tech
APA Style – Racial and Ethnic Identity
Debuk – Default: male
Hamilton College – Writing about Gender and Sexuality
How to Make Your Writing More Sensitive - and Why It Matters
To finish, here's one of their pictograms:
How to Make Your Writing More Sensitive - and Why It Matters
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