Friday Five: Language for a More Loving World
Words hold the power to be weaponizing or empowering. Speech can be harmful—our words can reproduce stereotypes and ideologies that violate people’s most basic rights. Our language defines how we perceive situations and how we communicate with others.
Keep reading for 5 disempowering phrases to eliminate from your vocabulary.
Don’t be anti-social, boring, lazy…
Even if you’re saying this with a light tone, it’s not okay to negatively address someone’s mood. You never know what they might be going through.
Replace with: “Why are you feeling this way? Anything you need to talk about?”
2. I hate…
Simple. This word has no place in any insightful conversation.
Replace with: “I prefer ___, I disagree with ___, It bothers me when ___”
3. I’m jealous of…
This energy thrives in a negative, competitive mentality and isn’t constructive.
Replace with: “I’m happy for this person, they inspire me to achieve/attain ___”
4. That isn’t fair…
There is no such thing as “fair,” it’s unreasonable to compare one person’s experiences or outcomes to another. We have different backgrounds, traumas, and dispositions and it isn’t useful to hold animosity towards someone or to fixate on a situation that didn’t go your way. Life is random and sometimes, ridiculous.
Replace with: “This experience, although frustrating, taught me this lesson ____ ”
5. You don’t look/seem…
“You don’t look Mexican.” “You don't seem transgender.” Telling someone that they don’t appear as they “should” is offensive. There is no right/wrong way to look or behave according to a culture or gender that one identifies with. This attitude contributes to stereotypes and bigotry
Replace with: “You’re so unique! Tell me more about yourself”
Read this PDF for terms to avoid when referencing the LGBTQ community.
