Language and terminology is something that is ever-changing, and sometimes it can feel difficult to keep up with the best terminology to use. This blog is by no means the final say on the language that you should be using, but should provide some guidance on how to approach teaching more inclusively.
Inclusivity can be with regard to gender identity, sexual identity, ethnicity, disability and other protected characteristics. It can take time to get used to using inclusive language, especially if it is something that you’re not familiar with (Saskatoon Sexual Health, n.d). Using inclusive language is also important from the perspective of students as it can allow a range of identities to feel represented as well as challenging implicit biases. These things together can help to foster a more inclusive environment and healthcare system.
If you are in a teaching role, take time to explain to your students why you are using inclusive language and encourage them to do the same. When referring to anatomy, you can refer to body parts without gendering them, and referring to specific organs rather than saying “male” or “female” (Saskatoon Sexual Health, n.d). Furthermore, gender identity may not be congruent with someone’s assigned sex at birth, so it is important to take particular care to use appropriate pronouns and descriptors in these circumstances (Easterling and Byram, 2022). Naming organs and structures “independent of the typical sex assigned at birth in which they are found in a cisgender person” can be more accurate and inclusive for all (Easterling and Byram, 2022). Transgender individuals exist in our society and healthcare system, and so it is important that our medical and anatomical education represent this: “the use of language that minimizes references to binaries and instead focuses on the components that combine to form individuals helps to promote a holistic view of the body.” (Easterling and Byram, 2022). Holistic medicine is something that is widely promoted and should be included in our anatomical teaching.
Regarding the use of inclusive language with regard to ethnicity, we should avoid the use of terms that may be considered dehumanising, such as “Blacks” or “Whites”. When referring to ethnicity in this way, it is always important to follow up with the word “people” or “person”. No one should be reduced to their race or ethnicity. The use of the terms “BME” and “BAME” are outdated because they homogenise a diverse group of ethnicities (Racial Disparity Unit, 2022). Instead, moving towards the term “ethnically minoritised” may be more accurate. The experience of being an “ethnic minority” is based on location and is not an identity in and of itself, instead “ethnically minoritised” is active terminology and takes into account the context of the country which it is being employed.
When referring to skin tone, it is important to avoid the use of racial titles, and instead describe skin colour by tones such as “light”, “medium”, and “dark”, as this is more accurate. Ethnicity does not define skin tone and therefore should not be used to describe in. The Fitzpatrick scale and the Martin-Massey skin tone scales may also be helpful when describing skin tones in a more detailed way.
Whilst these are some of the recommendations for good practice at the time of writing this article, we are aware that the “accepted” terminology is subject to change and can quickly become outdated. If this is the case, we will endeavour to either update this article or produce a new one.
References:
The Royal Bournemouth Hospital (2021) ‘The Fitzpatrick Skin-Type Chart’, available at:https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/uploads/about/docs/our_publications/patient_information_leaflets/dermatology/The-Fitzpatrick-Skin-Type-Chart.pdf (Accessed 29 July 2023)
Race Disparity Unit (2022) ‘Why we no longer use the term ‘BAME’ in government’, GOV.UK, available at: https://equalities.blog.gov.uk/2022/04/07/why-we-no-longer-use-the-term-bame-in-government/ (Accessed 29 July 2023).
Saskatoon Sexual Health (n.d) ‘Educator’s Guide to Inclusive Language’, Saskatoon Sexual Health, available at: https://saskatoonsexualhealth.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Guide-to-Inclusive-Language-in-Sex-Ed-2-1.pdf (Accessed 29 July 2023).
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