Written by: Natalie Hamilton (she/they)
The language we use matters. As future dietetics professionals, our relationships with our patients/clients will be the center and focus of our practice. Using inclusive language helps build a foundation of trust and respect.
It is also important to incorporate inclusive language into our everyday interactions with our classmates and coworkers, so that everyone in our workplaces and classrooms feels welcomed and respected.
Inclusive language is language that makes people feel included. It is inclusive of people’s race or ethnicity, sexuality, gender, age, body size, ability and socioeconomic status. This blog post will focus on language that is inclusive of sexuality and gender. Unfortunately, addressing all aspects of inclusive language will not fit in one blog post.
Making assumptions about clients, classmates or coworkers can immediately affect the relationship you are trying to establish. It is important that you work to incorporate inclusive language into your practice right from the start of every interaction.
Many folks, especially those who are a part of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, have had negative experiences when interacting with various healthcare professionals. It is incredibly harmful for folks to have their lived experiences erased or invalidated, and healthcare practitioners using exclusive language can contribute to harm they experience. I hope this introduction can serve as a starting point or can help reinforce your previous learning on how to start making changes in the language you use.
Pronouns
Start your interactions with people by introducing your own name and your pronouns. Ask whether the other person is comfortable sharing their pronouns.
Pronoun sharing should be optional. Not every space where you work or learn will always be a safe space for all people to share their pronouns.
Important: If you’re going to ask anybody about their pronouns, you should ask everybody. Everyone has pronouns, not just trans or non-binary folks. We need to get out of the practice of only asking certain folks about their pronouns because of how they “look.” People’s appearance does not indicate their pronouns, so we need to stop making assumptions.
What do I do if I make a mistake and refer to someone using the wrong pronouns?
Don’t make a big deal out of it. Apologize once, use the correct pronouns, and move on.
Often, when we make excuses or try to rationalize our mistakes, it puts the other person in the place of feeling like they have to say “it’s okay” or to reassure you when they shouldn’t have to.
Pronouns are not a preference.
Make sure to avoid saying they are preferred (i.e. asking folks to share their “preferred” pronouns). Pronouns are not a preference and they are not optional. A person’s self-determined pronouns are their pronouns and the only ones that should be used for them.
Do
Refer to folks as “person,” “client” or “patient” instead of woman or man until their self-determined gender identity is known.
Use someone’s self-determined name, pronouns or gender descriptors, even if their chart has a different name, pronouns and/or gender.
Don’t
Use the wrong pronouns/name/gender to talk about someone when they are not present. Their presence does not affect what pronouns you should use when talking about them.
Multiple Pronouns:
There is a whole range of pronouns that folks may use, and some folks use multiple pronouns.
For example, someone might go by she/they, she/he/they, he/they, they/he... the list continues.
If someone uses multiple pronouns, it can be helpful to ask whether they have a preference regarding which pronouns they are referred to using.
They may also say that they don’t have a preference and in that case, try to use both when referring to them. For example (she/they): “Finn said that she doesn’t like apples. They do, however, enjoy oranges.”
What are Neopronouns?
Neopronouns are a category of new (neo) pronouns that are increasingly used in place of “she,” “he,” or “they” when referring to a person. Some examples include: xe/xem/xyr, ze/hir/hirs, and ey/em/eir. Neopronouns can be used by anyone, though most often they are used by transgender, non-binary, and/or gender nonconforming people.
Tables with Inclusive vs Exclusive Language Examples
Gender and Sex
Instead of… (Exclusive Language) | Use… (Inclusive Language) |
Normal, real | Cisgender |
Opposite sex | Different sex |
Identifies as a woman, man, non-binary | Is a woman, man, non-binary |
Born a boy/girl, biologically female/male | Assigned female/male at birth |
Gender neutral | Non-binary*, gender nonconforming |
Sex change, sex reassignment surgery | Gender confirmation surgery |
*Non-binary is an umbrella term. Non-binary is a spectrum of gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or exclusively feminine—identities that are outside the gender binary of male and female.
Often it is best to ask folks what specific language they use to describe their identity.
Sex = biological classification
Gender = a person’s personal and social identity
Now let’s look at some tables that show more inclusive ways to talk to folks about their relationships and loved ones when taking patient history or talking to coworkers, friends and classmates. There also may be situations where you also talk to folks about their sexual orientation.
Instead of… (Exclusive Language) | Use… (Inclusive Language) |
Homosexual/Heterosexual | Lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, queer** |
Mother or Father | Parent or Guardian |
Husband or Wife, Boyfriend or Girlfriend | Spouse or partner |
Sexual preference, lifestyle choice, sexual identity | Sexual orientation |
**Important note: Queer is a term that historically was used as a derogatory term and for many folks it is still seen as a slur, whereas others want to use it to describe themselves. Only use queer to describe folks when they have used to describe themselves.
Greetings and Addressing Groups: There are so many ways that we can greet or address people that are not gendered. Many of these greetings may feel odd at first, but overtime, they can become like second nature to use. My personal favorite way to address people is using “hey y’all” because it is also just a fun greeting!
Don’ts (Exclusive language) | Instead Use: (Inclusive Language) |
“Hey guys” “Hey girls” or “hey girl” “Dude” “Boys and girls” “Guys and gals” | “Hey” “Folks” “Y’all” “Friends” “Colleagues” “People” “All Assembled” “Team” “Everyone” or “Everybody |
I hope that this overview and explanation of inclusive language for gender and sexuality is helpful as you start or continue the process of making changes in the language you use. Remember, language matters. Using inclusive language is an important step towards making Dietetics more inclusive for the LGBTQ2SIA+ community.
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