Stigmatizing Language: Words That Reinforce Sexual and Gender Stigma
Stigmatizing language uses words or framing that create shame, blame, prejudice, or social exclusion around sexuality, gender, health, behavior, or identity.
Stigmatizing language uses words or framing that create shame, blame, prejudice, or social exclusion around sexuality, gender, health, behavior, or identity.
Person-centered terminology uses accurate, respectful language that recognizes a person as more than a diagnosis, disability, sexual behavior, gender characteristic, or health condition.
Respectful terminology uses accurate and considerate words for people, identities, bodies, health, relationships, and sexuality without unnecessary stigma or degrading assumptions.
Gender literacy is the ability to understand and communicate about gender identity, expression, roles, stereotypes, diversity, and their relationship to sexuality and society.
An inclusive honorific is a respectful title that avoids inaccurate assumptions about gender, marital status, identity, or professional position.
Inclusive language communicates respectfully without unnecessary assumptions, stereotypes, exclusion, or inaccurate labels about identity and experience.
Pronoun sharing is the act of telling others which personal pronouns someone uses in introductions, forms, profiles, or private conversations.
A gender-neutral salutation is a greeting that avoids assuming the recipient’s gender, such as Dear Jordan Lee, Hello Taylor, or Dear Hiring Manager.
Gender neutral language avoids unnecessary assumptions through inclusive pronouns, job titles, relationship terms, and forms of address.
Gender neutrality avoids unnecessary distinctions and assumptions based on gender in language, clothing, work, education, parenting, and relationships.