photo: Agata Mitek
Words have power – workshop about inclusive language at the Faculty of Social Sciences
The agency of words, which we communicate with, is well known to poets and writers. We can hurt someone with a word more acutely than with a sword. Such issues were addressed at the VIth Social Work Fair, a recurrent event taking place at the Institute of Sociology and realized by the Department of Applied Sociology and Social Work.
During the workshop dedicated to its own issues of ‘used words’, we met inside the welcoming classrooms of the Faculty of Social Work of the University of Wrocław. The workshop ‘Inclusive or Exclusive Language’ came to existence thanks to the collaboration between: the Regional Academy of Self-advocacy, Eudajmonia Foundation, Institute of Sociology, students of Social Work, L’Arche Foundation, Biuro Wrocław Bez Barier Urząd Miejski Wrocławia (Wrocław’s Office Without Barriers, Municipal Office of Wrocław) and the Service Team for Students and Doctoral Students with Disabilities at University of Wrocław. On the occasion of the International Day of Human Rights we talked about the power of words.
Self-advocates Joanna Piotrowska, Justyna Najder, and Przemysław Boksa were our mentors.
We would like to present a few sentences from a manifesto, which started the meeting:
“Listen to understand. When I feel and think differently than you, I am also OK.
If you do not understand my behavior, ask me about it, do not judge.
Do not discriminate, do not exclude.”
“Your words might be my strength…they can also take it away from me…be mindful of the things you say.”
“Things which you say to me, might give me hope…they can also take it away from me…be careful with the words you say…they can give me a sense of safety…they can also make me feel excluded.”
All of us have heard words which might be hurtful. All of us might also hurt someone else with words. We listed the words, which hurt us: addressing us, our appearance, behavior, and lifestyle. It turned out that they do not describe us, but rather reflect on people who say these words. It is possible to speak without them; they do not have to be used to describe someone.
These topics were not easy to talk about, but in a great atmosphere we were looking for descriptions of the world without the use of negative meanings. “A cripple”, “a lunatic”, “a psycho” carry with themselves a lot of someone’s sadness and sorrow. Used purposely –they rip your soul, used inadvertently – they sadden.
We know that words change their meanings and how they are understood. Once used daily, nowadays they sound differently and hurtfully. Used in the past, “an invalid” is someone invaluable, damaged, who we do not want to know anything more about besides the fact that they need to be fixed or healed.
Today it is ‘a person with a disability’ because it is only one of many of their traits.
A lot has changed in terms of our sensitivity to another person, and a lot will change in the future. Workshop participants pointed out their concerns while interacting with a person with a disability. What words to use? Will they be appropriate or maybe we will unintentionally hurt someone, so it is better not to talk and notice them at all?
Can I say “Let’s go” to someone in a wheelchair? Can I say “See you” to someone blind? Can I ask “Have you heard of…?” to someone deaf?
We would like to thank every participant in this workshop.
Translated by Zuzanna Zapora (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
