Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz. referred to Black people as "colored people" Thursday in floor debate over his proposed amendment to an annual defense policy bill, prompting a stern rebuke from the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Lawmakers were debating a series of GOP-backed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, which the House aims to pass by the end of the week.
  • BraveSirZaphod@kbin.social
    142·
    1 year ago

    More importantly, there actually is proper data showing that this kind of thing can actually make a meaningful difference, and surely we’re all evidence-driven people here, right?

    A 2008 experiment researched teenagers’ perception of epilepsy with respect to people-first language. Teenagers from a summer camp were divided into two groups. One group was asked questions using the term “people with epilepsy”, and the other group was asked using the term “epileptics”, with questions including “Do you think that people with epilepsy/epileptics have more difficulties at school?” and “Do you have prejudice toward people with epilepsy/epileptics?” The study showed that the teenagers had higher “stigma perception” on the Stigma Scale of Epilepsy when hearing the phrase “epileptics” as opposed to “people with epilepsy”.

    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01899.x

    Not an exact parallel, but the point stands that these kinds of language patters can genuinely influence perception.