Read on Twitter
Looks like we're going to be discussing "person-first language" versus "identity-first language" again this week, so buckle in!... https://twitter.com/learningsolpub/status/1357011589547909121
... When it comes to talking about disability, "person-first language" is phrasing that aims to put the person before the disability. Example: "person who has a disability" rather than "disabled person".
It's the phrasing you might be most familiar with from work style-guides...
It's the phrasing you might be most familiar with from work style-guides...
... this phrasing became much more common over the last 30 or so years and was a heck of a lot better than the degrading terms used in the past that at best painted disabilities as a tragic sob story and at worst were cruel and oppressive...
... but there's been a lot of talk in disability advocacy more recently about using identity-first language instead. Example: "disabled person" rather than "person who has a disability". So why is that?
This article from 2015 is a good place to start... https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/i-am-disabled-on-identity-first-versus-people-first-language/
This article from 2015 is a good place to start... https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/i-am-disabled-on-identity-first-versus-people-first-language/
... This quote from it sums up a key reason: "Though person-first language is designed to promote respect, the concept is based on the idea that disability is something negative, something that you shouldn’t want to see."...
... I'm simplifying a LOT with this, but essentially it's one of those "Good intentions, but maybe didn't play out as intended" things. In an effort to try not to shame people for disabilities, that phrasing still makes some feel being disabled is being looked down on...
... So back to identity-first language. Tap into different communities and advocacy groups right now and you might notice how often you'll see disabled people asking for identity-first language. And it's not new: the Deaf community has preferred this for years...
... Is identity-first always what people prefer? Nope. But it's definitely not a good idea to default to the older people-first language approach many work style guide recommend across the board...
... If you're not sure and you're referring to a specific person you can talk to yourself? Ask them what their preference is. If you're talking about a group or community on a whole, go check out what the language those groups prefer tends to lean towards...
...And very specifically, look to the people you're referring to themselves, not others. Historically there's been a lot of tension between what phrasing different disabled groups prefer versus the phrasing those without their specific disability want to use...
... Telling disabled people how they want to be referred to is incorrect treats them as less-than... the exact thing supposed allies say they're trying to avoid.
Twitter in particular makes it VERY easy to connect with different communities, so this info isn't hard to find...
Twitter in particular makes it VERY easy to connect with different communities, so this info isn't hard to find...
...Final bit of my long Twitter rant: it's not uncommon for preferred terms to change over time as societies and communities themselves change. What's best practice phrasing today might not be 20 years from now - and that's okay!...
... No community should be forced to use terms/phrasing they're no longer comfortable or happy with just because others don't want to be bothered to learn a new approach.
Language shifts over time. This is just part of it...
Language shifts over time. This is just part of it...
... Not sure how to keep on top of disability language or phrasing shifts? There are tons of amazing disability activists here on Twitter that are well worth a follow for that reason and so many more.
Wrapping up the rant, I just remembered this excellent video from @JessicaOOTC about identity first vs. person first language that sums this topic up so fantastically in just under 12 minutes. Give it a watch!
