We live in a world of continual interactions with diverse people. At some point, you will find yourself in a social situation with individuals whose personal identities are new to you. In these instances, you may fear saying something wrong or feeling insecure, confused or defensive. But remember that the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) journey is just that, a journey that takes practice.
It is in these moments we face our assumptions and insecurities about not knowing how to address someone or how to refer to them in conversation. Take comfort in knowing that even people who are allies and champions of diversity get it wrong too, sometimes. A tip to help you make it right is to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Prepare for a potential mistake by practicing the sample phrases below that acknowledge when you misspeak and show that you are apologetic. Often, you will find that people are more forgiving of a blunder if they know you are working towards progress and are committed to being more inclusive.
- “I acknowledge that what I said could have been interpreted that way. I’m working on inclusivity and am going to be more aware of my language moving forward.”
- “Thank you for bringing that to my awareness. I’m glad that you’ve told me and now I know . . . “
- “Wow, I never thought of that. Would you mind sharing more about it, so I can better understand the situation?”
So get comfortable being uncomfortable and keep practicing and pushing yourself towards growth.
Please note, the suggested phrases above are versions of statements from Karen Catlin’s Better Allies Newsletter. Also, if you’re interested in learning more tips specifically related to inclusive language, check out The Inclusive Language Handbook by Jackie Ferguson and Roxanne Bellamy, for guidance on developing your EDI language practice.
