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.

Transcript

1. MARJORIE HOLMSTROM-SABO
   Inclusive
   
   
   Languag
   e
   
   Practices
   

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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.
   
   

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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
   

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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
   
   

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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.
   
   

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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.
   

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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
   
   

   

   

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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
   
   

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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.
   

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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.
    
    

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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!
    

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