7. Privilege & Biases
7.6: Inclusive Language
In this chapter, we will explore ways to use inclusive language when exchanging ideas and communicating with other people. How does EDI language evolve overtime? How can we use inclusive terminology when addressing LGBTQ2SIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Two-Spirit, Intersex, and Asexual) individuals? What are some of the guiding principles?
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate how to use inclusive language;
- Use appropriate LGBTQ2SIA+ terminology and pronouns; and
- Explain how to follow the lead of equity-deserving groups in defining their own preferred use of language.
Introduction
Language is a communication system that is based on words, gestures, music, and artistic creations to connect with other people. It dates back thousands of years, long before the emergence of the first civilization, and has a remarkable amount of variety in terms of distinguished alphabet, vocabularies, and dialects. Language is vital for human connection as it allows us to express our feelings, thoughts, build relationships, and is part of each unique culture. The language we use today is an evolved product that reflects historical, social, economic, and cultural processes, and therefore, is vulnerable to biases and social stereotypes. For example, historically, all positions of power were occupied by men, such as congressman, policeman, fireman. However, these days, we use gender-neutral language as a standard practice to refer to a member of congress, police officers and firefighters. This movement towards inclusive language aims to ensure that all members of society are respected and valued. Inclusive communication is a powerful anti-oppression tool to build a sense of belonging that is free from patronizing stereotypes and discriminatory descriptors.
General Principles
The following principles are adapted from inclusive language style guides produced by Queen’s University and the University of Victoria.
- Person-centered language. We need to avoid descriptors and focus on mentioning individual identity and characteristics that are relevant to a story. For example, avoid saying “the Jewish students”, and instead use a person-centered language such as “the exchange students from Israel”. Similarly, instead of saying “a disabled person” say “a person with a disability”. When referring to abilities/disabilities, we need to put emphasis on the person (e.g., student/staff/faculty member with a disability, a person who has epilepsy, person living with schizophrenia), and use language that conveys a positive capability rather than focusing on their limitations and disabilities. Be sensitive that chronic conditions and disability can be both visible and non-visible.
- Gender-Neutral language. Use words such as “partner”, “parent”, “care-giver”, “employee”, “first-year students”, and avoid terms with “man”, such as “chairman”, “mankind”, “ombudsman”, “sportsman”, “guys”, etc. A classic example is the evolution of popular Star Trek phrase from the “Where No Man Has Gone Before” in the original Star Trek television to “Where No One Has Gone Before” in the Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- Remember the difference between in-group and out-group naming, and that certain reclaimed, once-derogatory terms, may only be appropriate to be used for those belonging to the same group. For example, the word “queer” historically meant strange or peculiar. As a reclaimed umbrella term, the term queer is now proudly used by individuals within the LGBTQ2SIA+ community.
- Avoid using stereotypic descriptors that relates to people’s identity, such as “bossy”, “lady Doctor”, “male nurse”’ and do not make assumptions based on individual’s physical characteristics.
- Be respectful of diverse backgrounds and perspectives and make conscious effects to guide your language by the preference of those concerned.
We need to keep in mind that language can evolve quickly so it is important to keep your vocabulary up to date. We also need to be mindful that not everybody shares the same principles. You should make an active effort to ensure your language follows the preference of your audience groups.
Inclusive Language for the LGBTQ2SIA+ Community
Before we introduce you to the proper way to address members from the LGBTQ2SIA+ Community, let us first take a minute to review all the important terminologies. The acronym LGBTQ2SIA+ is based in White, Western gay culture and has evolved to celebrate the diversity of its community. The full acronym is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, 2Spirit, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic, + many other gender identities and sexual orientations (the 519, 2020). The word cloud that follows includes many terminologies used by the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. See the Transcript and Definitions for more details.
Transcript and Definitions: LGBTQ2SIA+ Word Cloud
The following definitions have been adapted from the University of Guelph’s Positive Space Training – Part 1 online module (the 519, 2016, 2020).
- Sex Assigned at Birth is what someone – usually a doctor or midwife, but occasionally in consultation with whoever birthed you – assigned you as when you were born. This is usually exclusively male or female and is based on your sex attributes (i.e., your genitals). Sometimes, a baby might be assigned intersex if the doctor was unable to determine the baby’s sex. When this happens, doctors would likely follow up with further testing to determine the sex of the baby.
- Sex is determined by individual biological makeup that include internal and external genitalia, chromosomes, hormones, and secondary sex characteristics (for example breasts, body hair, hip width). Many of these characteristics are not visibly apparent on some people, and a few of them are not apparent until after people are much older (i.e., during or after puberty). The different sex categories (male, female, and intersex) are on spectrums, as some people have a combination of different characteristics.
- Gender identity is someone’s internal sense of themselves or whom they know themselves to be. People might also identify with just one gender, or parts of many different genders (e.g., Man/Boy, Woman/Girl, and Other Gender such as agender or non-binary). Sometimes, people’s gender identity aligns with their assigned sex, but this is not always the case. When people’s gender identity and expression correspond with their sex, they are cisgender. When people’s gender identity and expression are different than their sex, they are transgender.
- Gender expression is how someone expresses their gender to the world through their choice of clothing, hairstyle, makeup preference, the way the talk, or their interests. Gender expression (Masculine, Feminine, and Androgynous/Other) does not necessarily align with gender identity for reasons such as access, comfort, or safety. For example, a man might have long hair and wear makeup, but still self-identifies as a man. Therefore, we cannot tell someone’s gender identity just by looking at them.
- Sexual orientation is to whom someone is attracted sexually. Identities commonly associated with sexual orientation include straight, gay, lesbian, and/or bisexual. Romantic orientation is to whom someone is attracted romantically. This is a less common term that describes who you want to engage with in romantic activities, such as cuddling, dating, or holding hands. Some people are sexually and/or romantically attracted to one gender identity, others are attracted to multiple genders. Romantic and sexual orientation do not necessarily align either. For example, someone might be romantically attracted to people of all genders, but only sexually attracted to men.
It is important to remember that sex assigned at birth, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and romantic orientation are five distinct aspects of people. They all exist on spectrums and are not always consistent. These spectrums are complex, diverse, and very personal.
LGBTQ2SIA+ Vocabulary
The vocabulary used in LGBTQ2SIA+ Community is an exemplary demonstration of how quickly our language changes. As our society starts to respect and appreciate the diverse genders and orientations, our language evolves to be more inclusive and respectful. For example, inclusive terminology “Gay” or “Lesbian” is now used instead of “homosexual” that stigmatized individuals in the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. Language around a trans person has also evolved rapidly in the past few decades, and stigmatized words, such as transsexual, transgenderism, tranny, Male-to-Female (MTF) or Female-to-Male (FTM), sex reassignment surgery/treatment should all be avoided. Instead, trans is the current umbrella term, and the procedures that help people transition to their self-identified gender is called gender affirmation treatment or gender affirmation surgery. Keep in mind that all individuals are their unique and authentic self and should always be addressed by their preference.
Here are some explanations for terms you might find unfamiliar in the above word cloud:
Agender/Genderless: Someone who is without gender, gender neutral, and/or rejects the concept of gender for themselves (Mardell, 2017).
Aggressive: An identity in Black communities for women who present and behave in masculine ways, and who partner with women; this term should only be used by Black individuals (Wilson, 2009).
Androgyne: A non-binary gender in which a person is “both a man and woman, neither a man nor woman, and/or somewhere in between man and woman” (Mardell, 2017; p. 133).
Aporagender: Someone whose gender is neither that of a woman, man, or anything in between but who still feels they have a very strong and specific gendered feeling (Kelly, 2016).
Bigender: “Someone who has/experiences two genders” – these may be experienced at the same time or fluctuate (Mardell, 2017; p. 108).
Butch: “Used as both a noun and an adjective, this refers to a person who identifies as masculine (either physically, mentally, or emotionally). The term is occasionally used as a lesbian slur but has been reclaimed by some gay women and turned into an affirmative label” (Kelly, 2016).
Chicanx: A gender-inclusive and/or neutral term for someone who is from Mexico, and lives in the United States (Avila, 2016; Planas, 2012).
Cisgender man: A person who knows themselves to be a man, after having been assigned male at birth.
Cisgender woman: A person who knows themselves to be a woman, after having been assigned female at birth.
Demigender: A person with a partial connection to a certain gender; usually demigirl (partially identifying as a girl) or demiboy (partially identifying as a boy).
Enby: Shortform, slang (and sometimes endearing) term for a non-binary person (derived from the pronunciation of the short form of non-binary, ‘nb’).
Fa’afafine: A third gender in Samoa; these individuals are an important part of Samoan culture.
Femme: “Used by and for anybody who identifies as feminine, but more commonly associated with feminine-identifying gay women” (Kelly, 2016).
Filipinx: Specifically for individuals from the Philippines. An identity term that is inclusive of individuals of all gender identities (FIERCE, n.d.).
Gender Nonconforming/Gender Variant/Gender Diverse/Gender Expansive: A person who does not conform to the concept of gender either in their gender identity and/or in their gender expression. These individuals may or may not also identify as trans and/or non-binary (Because I Am Human, 2017).
Gender Questioning: Someone who is unsure of, or exploring, their gender identity.
Genderfluid: Someone whose gender identity fluctuates between different genders and is not fixed.
Genderflux: “Someone whose experience with gender changes (fluctuates) in intensity” (Mardell, 2017; p. 127).
Genderqueer: “Someone whose gender exists outside of or beyond society’s binary concept of gender, often by not conforming to it” (Mardell, 2017; p. 120).
Gendervague: A gender identity that is highly influenced by being neurodivergent and feels undefinable or partly definable because of one’s neurodivergence.
Graygender: “Someone who has a weak sense of gender and/or is somewhat apathetic about their gender identity/expression” (Mardell, 2017; p. 144-145).
Hijra: A third gender in India legally recognized by the Supreme Court of India. Individuals assigned male at birth who appear as women and take on other traditional roles and power in Indian culture (for example, they are believed to have fertility enhancing powers) (Reddy, 2005).
Intergender: A person who identifies “between or as a mix of the binary genders”; some see this identity as exclusively reserved for Intersex individuals (Mardell, 2017; p. 143).
Khanith: This term is specific to Oman; Khanith is a third sex category in Oman describing men who have sex with other men and behave in a more feminine way (Ilkkaracan, 2016).
Latinx: Specifically for Latin American individuals. An identity term that is inclusive of queer, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals (Rodriguez-Cayro, 2019). Also, an umbrella term used when you do not know the gender identities of a group of people you are talking about (Rodriguez-Cayro, 2019).
Maverique: “Someone who has an autonomous gender which exists entirely independent of the binary genders man and woman” (Mardell, 2017; p. 115).
Neutrois: “Someone whose gender is neutral or null” (Mardell, 2017; p. 140).
Non-binary: Both a specific gender identity and an umbrella term. Non-binary describes individuals who do not exclusively or wholly identify as men or as women (binary genders).
Polygender: Someone who identifies as more than one gender.
RaeRae and Mahu: Both RaeRae and Mahu are terms for individuals in Polynesian culture who are neither men nor women, but someone who is partially a man and partially a woman (Stip, 2015). These individuals were seen as an important part of the Polynesian community however colonization has affected this relationship (Stip, 2015). Someone who is RaeRae may have had hormone therapy or gender affirming surgeries, whereas the term Mahu is more exclusively about the role the individuals have in Polynesian culture (Stip, 2015).
Stud: An identity in Black communities for women who present and behave in masculine ways, and whom partner with women; this term should only be used by Black individuals (Wilson, 2009).
Third Gender: A term used in many non-Western cultures for people who do not identify as either a man or a woman.
Trans man: A person who knows themselves to be a man, after having been assigned male at birth.
Trans person: A person who knows themselves to be trans, after having been assigned male or female at birth.
Trans woman: A person who knows themselves to be a woman, after having been assigned male at birth.
Transfeminine: “A term used to describe someone who was assigned male at birth, and who has a predominantly feminine gender and/or expresses themselves in a way they describe as feminine. While feminine people feel a connection to femininity, they may not identify in part or in whole as female” (Mardell, 2017; p. 105).
Transmasculine: “A term used to describe someone who was assigned female at birth, and who has a predominantly masculine gender and/or expresses themselves in a way they describe as masculine. While transmasculine people feel a connection to masculinity, they may not identify in part or in whole as male” (Mardell, 2017; p. 104).
Trigender: “Someone who has/experiences three genders” (Mardell, 2017; p. 108).
Two-Spirit: An Indigenous term for someone who does is not straight and/or cisgender. This is an umbrella term and has different meanings depending on the Indigenous individual, nation, region and/or territory.
Xenogender: Umbrella term for non-binary genders that are not defined by characteristics related to male or female.
X-jendā: A Japanese word for transgender individuals who identify as neither men nor women; it is a broadly encompassing word open for individual interpretation (Dale, 2012).
Pronouns
An effective way to acknowledge people’s gender identities is through the use of pronouns. A pronoun is a part of speech that replaces a place, idea, object, and emotion, such as “it”, “this”, “those” (i.e., instead of “this apple is very sweet”, we would say “it is very sweet”). Pronouns can also be used to reflect people’s gender identity. Most common forms of pronouns include He/Him/His/Himself, She/Her/Hers(s)/Herself, and gender-neutral pronoun They/Them/Theirs/Themself/Themselves. Although there are forms of pronouns such as Ze, Ve, Xe, Ey, Fae, the key is not to remember every single gender pronoun, but to respect how people self-identity.
Practicing Pronouns
Summary and Self-Reflection
Language is powerful. It can make or break a person. In our everyday life, what we say or do, and how we say or do, makes a big difference for people around us. Inclusive language can make people feel welcome, encouraged, respected, and supported. On the contrary, when we do not make an active effort to ensure all members are included, we are missing out on diverse perspectives and unique talents. As you continue your learning, it is important to reflect and ask yourself:
- Did you talk to people the way you want to be talked to?
- Were you using positive and neutral language regardless of people’s identity and characteristics?
- Did you address people the way they preferred?
- Did you use plain and accessible language rather than complicated acronyms or jargon?
- Did you acknowledge the diversity of your audience and use appropriate pronouns?
Additional Resources
References
Queen’s University. Style guide: Inclusive Language Guidelines. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.queensu.ca/styleguide/inclusivelanguage
The 519. (2016). Media Reference Guide – Discussing trans and gender-diverse people.
The 519. (2020). LGBTQ2S Glossary of Terms.
The University of Victoria. (2020). Style guide: Inclusive Language. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.uvic.ca/brand/story/style/inclusivity/index.php#2
Avila, J. (2016, April 11). R’Perspective: Why Chicanx is anything, but outdated. Retrieved from https://www.highlandernews.org/23394/rperspective-why-chicanx-is-anything-but-outdated/
Because I Am Human. (2017, February 15). Glossary. Retrieved from https://becauseiamhumanblog.wordpress.com/resources/glossary/.
Dale, S. P. F. (2012). An introduction to X-Jendā: Examining a new gender identity in Japan. Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific. 31. Retrieved from http://intersections.anu.edu.au/issue31/dale.htm
FIERCE (n.d.). Why we say ‘Filipinx’. Retrieved from http://kpfierce.weebly.com/blog/why-we-say-filipinx.
Ilkkaracan, P. (2016). Deconstructing Sexuality in the Middle East: Challenges and Discourses. Retrieved from https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/
Kelly, G. (2016, May 24). A (nearly) complete glossary of gender identities for your next census. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/a-nearly-complete-glossary-of-gender-identities-for-your-next-ce/.
Mardell, A. (2017, November 9). The GayBC’s of LGBTQ Ebook. Retrieved from https://mango.bz/books/the-gaybcs-of-lgbtq-by-ashley-mardell-365-b.
Planas, R. (2012, October 21). Chicano: What does the word mean and where does it come from? Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/chicano_n_1990226?ri18n=true
Reddy, G. (2005). Geographies of contagion: Hijras, Kothis, and the politics of sexual marginality in Hyderabad. Anthropology & Medicine 12(3). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/13648470500291410.
Rodriguez-Cayro, K. (2017, September 16). Why young people use the word Latinx – and how they explain it to their parents. Retrieved from https://www.bustle.com/p/why-young-people-use-the-word-latinx-how-they-explain-it-to-their-parents-18733284
Stip, E. (2015). RaeRae and Mahu: Third Polynesian gender. Sante Mentale au Quebec. 40(3), 193-208.
Wilson, B. D. M. (2009). Black lesbian gender and sexual culture: Celebration and resistance. Culture, Health & Sexuality. 11(3), 297-313. DOI: 10.1080/13691050802676876.
Image Credits
Chapter 6 Banner: Open Learning and Educational Support, University of Guelph/graphic
Chapter 6 Divider: Open Learning and Educational Support, University of Guelph/graphic
Figure 6.1 LGBTQ2SIA+ Word-cloud: Open Learning and Educational Support, University of Guelph/graphic
