Keep in mind that your audience may include people from a variety of different backgrounds. Unless you wish to intentionally exclude or offend possible readers, you should use unbiased language and avoid stereotypical assumptions.
Eliminating assumptions of normativity.
* Think about whom you mean when you're talking in general terms. Do you
really mean everyone? If you mean "white people," don't just say "people"
- after all, "people" means everyone, and to assume that it only means
whites is to erase the presence of people of color. Similarly, do you mean "everyone"
to include all classes, or are you referring specifically to working class,
middle class, or upper class? Are you including both men and women? It's
ok to say "everyone" if you really do mean "everyone," but
use specific language when you've got a specific group in mind.
If you find yourself unconsciously assuming a certain group as the norm, you should read your essay with an eye to noticing these assumptions and eliminating them.
* Avoid using he and him as all-purpose pronouns. You can often
avoid using gendered pronouns by making the subject plural:
A professor must be careful about his language. [biased language]
Professors must be careful about their language. [unbiased language]
* Avoid using man as an inclusive term. Instead, use people, or refer to a specific
occupation or role: professionals, students, etc.
* Avoid assuming that certain professions or roles are primarily for men or
for women.
* Avoid unintentional (or intentional!) implications that men and women behave
in stereotypical ways.
* Avoid the use of the term "lady." Also avoid the use of the term
"female" (or "male"), which is used when referring to animals
and is demeaning when used to refer to humans.
* Be as accurate as possible. For example, if you're talking about a specific
ethnic group, then use the specific terms (i.e., Filipino instead of Asian,
Cuban instead of Hispanic, Navajo instead of Native American.) But if you are
talking about a larger ethnic group, don't be incorrectly specific (i.e., if
you mean Hispanic or Latino/a, don't say Mexican).
* Remember that any group of people has a wide variety of experiences and opinions.
There is no such thing as "The Native American Experience," or "The
Hispanic Opinion."
* Remember there's a difference between Asian and Asian-American; avoid the
term "Oriental."
* Avoid unintentional (or intentional!) racial or ethnic stereotypes.
* Do not use the singular when referring to a group of people. For example,
using the singular "Cherokee" when referring to more than one member
of the tribe is incorrect. Likewise, saying "When the white man came"
is also incorrect. It begs the question, "Which one?" The singular
is how we refer to animals (the horse, the mule, etc) and is demeaning to humans.
(See also Devon A. Mihesuah, American Indians: Stereotypes and Realities.)
Eliminating bias toward age, physical condition, class, or sexual orientation
* "Old" is a relative term, and "old folks" can be offensive.
Be as specific as you can about age. If you have to say "Old," you
should define what you mean by that. Reserve the terms boy, girl, child and
kid for persons under 18.
* Avoid language that implies pity, like victim or cripple, when referring to
persons with illnesses or disabilities. Instead, be as accurate as possible
and refer to the person first, the illness or disability second: a woman with
multiple sclerosis.
* Mention a person's sexual orientation only when it is relevant to the topic
at hand and use objective, nonjudgmental terminology.
updated 10. September 2002