Inclusive Language Guide for Thought and
Discussion
Every language reflects the
worldview of the society in which it evolves.
Since English evolved in a white, Anglo-Saxon,
patriarchal society, no one should be surprised
that our vocabulary and grammar frequently reflects
attitudes that exclude or demean minorities and
women. How is our language biased?
Read the following scriptures:
- Matthew 4:10
- Psalm 99
- Luke 3:23-28
- If a woman is swept overboard on a ship what is yelled? ______ (Man overboard).
- If a woman is killed by a hit-and-run driver, the charge is _____ (manslaughter).
- If she is injured on the job, the coverage is ___ (Workman's Compensation).
- But, if arriving at a door marked "Men Only" she knows it is not meant for her.
Suppose you have a basket of both lemons and oranges. If you call them citrus fruits, you are accurate and neither is slighted. But if you constantly refer to the basket as full of lemons, the orange growers might get angry or sue because you are discriminating against them. How does this relate to scripture, preachers, prayers, hymns?
From the book, Children's Letters to God, by Marshall & Hample:
"Dear God, Do you really like boys better than girls? I know you are one, but please try and be fair." -- Sylvia, age 8
How will thinking God likes boys better than girls influence Sylvia?
What could be responsible for Sylvia's image of God? Read:
- Deuteronomy 32:18 (God who gave you birth)
- Psalm 71:6 (God as midwife)
- John 3: 5-8 (God gives birth)
- Matthew 23:27 (God as hen gathering her brood)
- Luke 15: 8-10 (God as woman who loses a coin)
Why hasn't Sylvia picked up on these images?
What is Inclusive Language
Inclusive language is simply language that attempts to include all people in it. We create worlds as we speak and our commitment is to create a world where men and women are welcomed, respected, and 'seen' equally. In Galatians 3:28, Paul writes, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." Because we are all equal in God's eyes, our language should reflect this new reality of the Kin-dom. Inclusive language tries to equalize the language we use about human beings and God. There are a few different ways we can do this:
Inclusive language is simply language that attempts to include all people in it. We create worlds as we speak and our commitment is to create a world where men and women are welcomed, respected, and 'seen' equally. In Galatians 3:28, Paul writes, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." Because we are all equal in God's eyes, our language should reflect this new reality of the Kin-dom. Inclusive language tries to equalize the language we use about human beings and God. There are a few different ways we can do this:
- We can remove gender bias from language by choosing to avoid gender specific words like man, men, brotherhood (when referring to the entire denomination or church), etc., in our worship and church-led events and studies. Instead of man, we use human or person. Instead of men, we use humanity, people, persons, etc. Instead of brotherhood, we use church family or denomination.
- We can emphasize non-gendered images of God like God our Rock,
- Realizing that it's very difficult to remove all gendered words from our stories and our worship, we can balance masculine and feminine images. Instead of men, we can say men and women. Instead of he, we can say he or she or simply say he one time and she the next. Because there are female images of God in the Bible, we can refer to God as He sometimes and She sometimes. We can pray not to the God of Abraham, but to the God of Abraham and Sarah. We can say brothers and sisters instead of brothers. We can balance male metaphors for God like God our Father with biblical female metaphors like God our Mother.
Resources on Inclusivity
Inclusive Language
Diversity & Disagreement
(coming soon)
Creating Safe Space in Our Churches
Pacific School Of Religion Inclusive Language Policy -- an excellent explanation of why Inclusive Language matters and how to use it.
Inclusive Language
Diversity & Disagreement
(coming soon)
Creating Safe Space in Our Churches
Pacific School Of Religion Inclusive Language Policy -- an excellent explanation of why Inclusive Language matters and how to use it.