The weight of words: Combating discrimination with gender-neutral language

Language is a system of communication, a means to be understood but it can also leave people feeling quite the opposite and excluded from society, especially when it comes to gender and identity. We're joined by author and scholar Emerson Whitney, the author of "Heaven", which looks at childhood, identity, the story of our bodies and how language shapes what we think of ourselves. Whitney, who uses the pronouns they/them, give us their perspective on where language fails us and where the current thinking behind our words comes from. 

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[casidorodereyna]

Wierd, I'm 35 year old and I wont change the way I learned to speak for person with low self love, period

[HUNVilly]

"I support anyone's right to be who they want to be. My question is: to what extent do I have to participate in your self-image?" -Dave Chappelle

Forget Coivd, forget the damaged economy, and even forget how cancer is taking so many lives. This is the most pressing issue for some people? Is this even newsworthy?

[jacoblynam]

So basically people want to have a specific pronoun for their specific gender, so we’ll soon have infinite genders because everyone is different. Plus, I will NEVER ask someone what their preferred gender is. My live does not revolve around you. I’ll treat you with respect, but I do not have to agree with you.

[Eastwoodx]

Why call it weight? That’s fat shaming.

[potorrero]

People asking for neutral language clearly don't know spanish, where almost every word has a gende. Imagine having to change a whole language for a group of low self-esteemed nutcases, no offense

[jejewa]

So they will have thee right to call me under a new name because tthey have a mental problem but i will be taken to. Court for using my words??

[nigelnyoni]

She's on the news talking about "what we consider biology.. what even is male anatomy"

[TheChinBurton]

@7:14what are these people on.. i want some

[wazzup]

Freedom of speech 🤳
It's hard enough to live here, now they want to make it harder 🥴😬🤪

[funjoyknowledge]

If u have a Moustache it does not mean u r a Man. They are still feminine Moustache and u r a female

[gnomuka]

You will all submit just like you have before, you wear a breathing muzzle so yes you will obey!