That type of response is completely inappropriate, unprofessional, and cruel." Jennifer: "Yes, I was told recently by a colleague that they were laughed at after sharing their pronouns in a meeting. It may seem small or unimportant, but it's huge for those on the receiving end who are consistently misunderstood. It's more helpful to self-check our assumptions and work to rephrase discussions until we can verify identity and pronouns. It's not hard to check someone's identity, and it can make such a difference toward that person's feeling of acceptance." Language missteps from assumptions occur in other situations, such as when people mentally assign gender based on a person's job title, role, appearance, or voice. I encourage people to think about how those assumptions developed over time and to question what they assume before they speak. We want language to include us, too."Ībhinav: "I've experienced and witnessed multiple situations where people make gender-based assumptions about a significant other. Your identity out to the world does not change, and you are still part of the whole with inclusive language, we, the LGBTQ+ community, are simply saying: "We want the same thing. ![]() In individual conversations, you can be more specific and talk about your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, or being single - whatever aligns with who you are. Instead, the point is to expand respect and inclusion from some people to everyone. Jennifer: "Inclusive language is not intended to remove anyone's identity. You may feel newly excluded or threatened. Now you're asked to change how to speak and incorporate inclusive language. Suppose you grew up and lived in a society with language consistent with your identity. While the feeling of being excluded because of language may have been a unique experience for that person, it's unfortunately common for those in the LGBTQ+ community. Now their identity wasn't the only one being acknowledged through words." It was eye opening to realize that this person - and others who have enjoyed the privilege of language that caters to their identity - could feel excluded. To them, it felt as though their identity wasn't seen. Specifically, the word "spouse" was used. This person was upset because they had a husband and were used to always being asked about their husband. ![]() Remember, for people for whom language has always been inclusive - notably heterosexual, cis-gendered people - the shift to non-gendered words can feel challenging at first.įor example, I know someone who attended a conference where, in conversation, someone asked about their spouse. Jennifer: "When people feel that their identity is threatened, it's human nature to react negatively. They share stories and thoughts about identity, acceptance, and the power of words. I'm joined by two colleagues in this conversation: Jennifer Rideout (Global Co-Lead, Pride Inclusive Community) and Abhinav Shikhar (APJC Co-Lead, Pride Inclusive Community). ![]() This is certainly the case for the LGBTQ+ community. In sharing our identities with the world, we seek to feel seen and accepted. Having a sense of identity is critical to all of us. That's why I'm continuing this blog series to raise awareness about the power of Inclusive Language. ![]() NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / J/ Cisco Systems Inc.
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