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- The Conscious Language Newsletter: April 2020
The Conscious Language Newsletter: April 2020
From the World of Conscious Language
Note: The authors’ viewpoints are not necessarily shared by Conscious Style Guide.
5 Ways Parents Can Motivate Children at Home During the Pandemic—Without Nagging or Tantrums | The Conversation
“When parents provide reasons for why they are asking for something, children can better understand the importance of acting in particular ways.”
Instead of Social Distancing, Practice “Distant Socializing” Instead, Urges Stanford Psychologist | Stanford News
“‘Social distancing’ was the wrong term to begin with. We should think of this time as ‘physical distancing’ to emphasize that we can remain socially connected even while being apart. In fact, I encourage all of us to practice ‘distant socializing.’”
The Problem With Using “Patient Zero” and “Party Zero” in Coronavirus News | Journalist’s Resource
“There is never any practical use in the media to attributing the beginning of an outbreak to one person.” —Helen Jenkins, infectious disease epidemiologist
No. 1: “Slow down the pace of information, especially at points of complexity.”
The Coronavirus Is Not Chinese | Quibbles & Bits
The BuzzFeed copydesk offers advice on why it’s a racist misnomer to call the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” or the “Wuhan flu,” when to use “COVID-19” and when to use “the coronavirus,” and how to style common pandemic terminology.
Torture Prevalent, Effective in Popular Movies, Study Finds | The University of Alabama
“Our aim is to draw attention to the prevalence of this trope and hope that screenwriters will exercise more caution in using torture as a plot device.” —Dr. Casey Delehanty, assistant professor of political science, Gardner-Webb University
“Feminism in India…created a database of 10 images that can be used by the media when reporting on violence against women, in lieu of stereotypical representations that depict them cowering in fear or shame.”
“Framing memoir writing as therapy suggests students should be looking for problematic topics to be addressed. I want my students to feel free to explore and write about—or not—whatever they choose.”
“In a society that sees sex as the preserve of the young, more films and TV should show that desire doesn’t die at 60.”
Miss Manners: Gender-Neutral Honorific “Mx.” Enters the Arena | The Washington Post
Miss Manners declares her endorsement of the gender-free courtesy title Mx.
U.S. Passports Offer Only “M” or “F” Gender Categories. A New Bill Would Require a Gender-Neutral “X,” Too. | The Washington Post
“At least 10 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Bangladesh, India and New Zealand, already issue passports with three gender options.”
Google AI Will No Longer Use Gender Labels Like “Woman” or “Man” on Images of People to Avoid Bias | Business Insider
“Google said it had made the change because it was not possible to infer someone’s gender solely from their appearance.”
Gender Pronouns Can Be Tricky on Campus. Harvard Is Making Them Stick. | The New York Times
“The least we could do is make it an OK thing to be open about who you are.” —Ruth Hayes, faculty, The Evergreen State College
Replacing “Muffins with Mom” and “Donuts with Dad” with “Breakfast with Buddies, Pancakes with Pals, Muffins in the Morning, and Donuts with Grownups.”
CSG in the News
Webinar Recap: COVID-19: Taking Care of Journalists and Journalism | Freedom Forum Institute
Thanks to Asian American Journalists Association president Michelle Ye Hee Lee for the shout-out to Conscious Style Guide and our adviser Henry Fuhrmann!
Conscious Style Guide is delighted to be included as a “fascinating resource” by Ezvid.
From the Archives
Rethinking Courtesy Titles in Obituaries | Conscious Style Guide
“The courtesy titles with longevity are ones without a gender bias.”
In Case You Missed It
How to cover the coronavirus responsibly, how political and science jargon affect reader interest, why older may be the preferred term for aging adults, and how Blue Ivy is not an adult.
Free Resource for Finding Editors of Color
The Editors of Color Database, a project of Conscious Style Guide, is a free service that connects employers and recruiters with editors, proofreaders, and sensitivity readers of color in the U.S. and Canada. Also home to the Database of Diverse Databases, now with 70 resources featuring underrepresented communities!
Conscious Language in Fiction
Follow @consciousstyleguide on Instagram for examples of how context can support sensitive content, with a focus on young-adult books and kidlit.
The Conscious Style Guide newsletter rounds up the best news and blog posts from the world of kind, compassionate, mindful, empowering, respectful, and inclusive language. Note: Spotlighting an opinion is not intended as an endorsement. Please send news tips to [email protected].
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