$30 off During Our Annual Pro Sale. View Details »

Inclusive Language Practices

Inclusive Language Practices

What's the big deal saying "Hey, guys!" Who cares about pronouns? It's just a word, right? This talk highlights some of the best reasons and practices for using inclusive language, and how it can improve both team dynamics AND user experiences through empathy.

Marje Holmstrom-Sabo

January 31, 2022
Tweet

More Decks by Marje Holmstrom-Sabo

Other Decks in Business

Transcript

  1. MARJORIE HOLMSTROM-SABO
    Inclusive


    Languag
    e

    Practices

    View Slide

  2. Introduction
    INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE PRACTICES
    - I prefer she/her pronouns.

    - I am a communications professional with 

    background in engineering and
    programming.

    - I take care of people and business
    operations at Tighten, and you might know
    me as @minn_
    fi
    nn on Twitter.

    - This talk is biased toward people who speak
    English as their
    fi
    rst language.
    My name is Marje Holmstrom-Sabo. I prefer she/her pronouns.

    Communications professional with background in engineering and programming.

    In my current role, I take care of people and business operations at Tighten, and you might know me as @minn_
    fi
    nn on Twitter.

    This talk is biased toward people who speak English as their
    fi
    rst language.

    View Slide

  3. INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE PRACTICES
    Meta
    Introduction
    - Identity

    - Credibility

    - Connection

    - Friend or foe?

    An introduction to that introduction…

    An introduction establishes these things:

    - identity (Who is this person speaking to you? Shared my name / pronouns)

    - credibility (What makes me believable? Shared my professional background)

    - connection (How might we be connected to each other? Context of work and twitter o
    ff
    ered)

    - Friend? Or Foe?

    An introduction is our
    fi
    rst opportunity to connect with the person we are speaking to

    View Slide

  4. INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE PRACTICES
    SHE/HER
    HE/HIM
    THEY/THEM
    Words Matte
    r

    When meeting
    Choosing similar words and vocabulary

    indicates:


    - respect for the other person

    - empathetic response

    - active listening

    - recognition of di
    ff
    erence

    - equal footing as peers

    Pronouns Vocabulary
    Base assumptions
    Understanding
    Okay - now think in your head what you would say to introduce yourself to me.

    If my words helped you feel welcome, you might say similar things in response -

    “My name is Matt. I prefer he/his pronouns, and I also use twitter and enjoy welcoming people to this community!”

    In that example, you’ve picked up on words I used, chose a similar structure, and in doing those things - demonstrated to me

    - respect - you responded in kind

    - empathetic response - you chose similar structure

    - active listening - you paid attention

    - recognition of basic di
    ff
    erences - your pronouns aren’t the same

    - equal footing as peers - seek commonality, not dominance

    View Slide

  5. The Guidelines for Inclusive Language, published by the Linguistic
    Society of America (LSA) de
    fi
    ne inclusive language as language that
    “acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to
    di
    ff
    erences, and promotes equal opportunities.”
    Inclusive
    Language
    Guidelines for Inclusive Language:

    “Acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to di
    ff
    erences, and promotes equal opportunity”

    At its most basic, inclusive language really means using words that help people feel like friends, not foes.

    View Slide

  6. INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE PRACTICES
    Commonly use
    d

    But not inclusive
    “Hey, guys”
    “master”
    “My dudes”
    “Ladies and
    Gentlemen”
    “Hey, Guys”

    “Ladies and Gentlemen”

    “My dudes”

    “master”

    I think we’ve all heard these phrases, and probably used them. I called these out because each of them makes an assumption about the audience reading or hearing it.
    Not everyone is a guy, a lady, a gentleman, a dude. Master immediately calls to mind dominance, not equality.

    While there may be times when these words or phrases could be used inclusively - they don’t indicate a diversity of thought or audience, especially in a
    fi
    rst encounter
    and we’ve got SO many other options because English is nothing if not ridiculously burdened with many many words.

    View Slide

  7. INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE PRACTICES
    Supervillians
    Humans
    Team
    Friends
    All y’all
    Y’all
    Folks
    Ne
    w

    Option
    s

    To try
    Y’all

    All y’all

    Folks

    Humans

    People

    Team

    Friends

    Supervillains (best saved for gatherings of self-identi
    fi
    ed supervillians)

    Main or primary


    - Words that don’t assume a default gender, a speci
    fi
    c heirarchy or dominance, and invite the audience to feel included



    View Slide

  8. INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE PRACTICES
    Future Practice


    Points
    - Share your own pronouns and listen
    for the pronouns of others

    - Look out for words that imply a
    default gender

    - Accept that language changes to
    serve the people who use it

    - If you make a mistake, correct
    yourself quickly and continue
    Share your own pronouns: Listen and use the pronouns shared with you, and recognize that as a mark of respect and trust in you

    Look out for words and phrases that imply a default gender or imply dominance in a group of people you are addressing, and seek alternatives

    Accept that language changes to serve the people who use it - otherwise, it’s a dead language taught by classics professors.

    If you make a mistake, correct yourself quickly and move on. Don’t apologize repeatedly and center your mistake - honor the correction and the person and know it
    becomes easier with practice

    View Slide

  9. INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE PRACTICES
    Conclusion
    The words you choose in everyday
    conversation are your most

    powerful tool in helping those
    around you feel welcome, safe and
    important.

    Being inclusive with language is
    about inviting people in for
    discussions, not making
    assumptions.
    Remember that this isn’t about being right or wrong - it’s about being welcoming, respectful, and trustworthy.

    The words you choose actively shape the way you think and are your MOST powerful tool in helping those around you feel welcome, safe, and important. People who
    feel safe can spend less time sorting out the friend or foe?
    fi
    ght/
    fl
    ight/freeze? And more time creating stronger relationships and products with colleagues and clients.

    View Slide

  10. INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE PRACTICES
    Reference
    s

    and reading
    Inclusive Language: https://counseling.northwestern.edu/blog/inclusive-language-
    guide/


    Building Rapport: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/rapport.html

    Active Listening: https://positivepsychology.com/active-listening/

    Pronouns Matter: https://www.edi.nih.gov/blog/communities/what-are-gender-
    pronouns-why-do-they-matter
    References links used in prepping this talk, and a starting point for continued learning.


    I’ll share these on twitter after my talk.

    View Slide

  11. Inclusive Language Practices

    Thanks to my colleagues at Tighten for their inclusive practices and support in prepping this talk.


    Thanks to everyone who donated a ticket to the scholarship program.


    Thanks to all of you for listening! Go forth, and be friendly!

    View Slide