Evolving Our Language: A Call for Inclusivity
Updated: Oct 11
Understanding the Impact of Language
Imagine waking up in the morning, walking to your backyard, and grabbing one of your T-shirts to throw into a bucket of stale urine to wash it. Or gluing two fuzzy strips of mouse hair to your forehead because you were told that it was the absolute pinnacle of high fashion. It sounds bizarre and unhinged, yet a few centuries ago, these were perfectly normal routines. Over time, these practices were scrutinized by society, leading to one simple conclusion: they had to evolve.
It's easy to believe that society has completed the full cycle of evolution. Decades of advocacy have led to significant wins, like Rosa's Law in 2010. This law officially removed "mental retardation" from federal law and labor statutes in the United States, replacing it with the term widely used today, "intellectual disability."
The Regression of Inclusive Language
However, over the last couple of years, the language of inclusion has suffered a massive regression. High-profile social media pages, hiding under the pretense of edginess, have allowed the r-word to claw its way back into mainstream internet slang. Recent data shows that the social media usage of this term skyrockets by over 200% during periods of high political and cultural tension. It becomes an easy way for people to mock or disregard opposing viewpoints.
When confronted, the standard defense often goes along the lines of, "I didn't mean it to degrade individuals with Down syndrome; I was just using it to mean stupid." But this defense overlooks how language actually works. The harm of a disability-based slur does not depend on who it is directed at. Using a medical diagnosis as a synonym for failure, incompetence, or worthlessness reinforces a toxic cultural baseline. You are loudly telling the world—and the people with intellectual disabilities who are listening—that the condition defining their very existence is the ultimate measure of being a loser.
As the legendary self-advocate John Franklin Stephens said years ago, “You don’t have to aim the word directly at me to hurt me and millions of others like me. At best, it is used as another way of saying 'stupid' or 'loser.' At worst, it is aimed directly at me as a way to label me as an outcast."
The Historical Context of Harmful Language
To understand why this word hurts so much, we must look at its origin. The words society now throws around so casually—idiot, moron, imbecile, and ultimately, retarded—didn't start as playground insults. They were sterile clinical labels born of the dark eugenics movement of the early 20th century. These were the very medical terms used to legally justify institutionalizing human beings, stripping them of their civil rights, and forcibly sterilizing them.
Today, when someone reaches for that vocabulary, they are hauling forward the heavy, painful baggage of an era that saw people with Down syndrome as inhuman.
The Importance of Choosing Inclusive Language
In the short video, Just Evolve, we see a man who vehemently defends his freedom of speech. Technically, he is right; the law won’t put you in jail for using a slur. But true maturity lies in realizing that the right to say something doesn’t make it right to say.
Choosing more inclusive language is not about giving in to "word policing" or extreme sensitivity. It is an easy recognition that the words we choose construct the physical world we live in. We can choose a world where we reduce our fellow human beings to cruel punchlines, or we can choose a world where we see them with dignity and respect.
Moving Forward Together
It's time to update our lexicon and leave slurs in the past. By fostering a culture of respect and understanding, we can create an environment where everyone feels valued. Let’s work together to build a more inclusive world, one word at a time.
As we navigate this journey, let’s remember that language is powerful. It shapes our perceptions and influences our actions. By choosing our words carefully, we can help create a society that embraces diversity and champions the voices of all individuals.
In conclusion, let’s commit to evolving our language and our mindset. Together, we can foster a community that uplifts everyone, especially those with Down syndrome. It’s not just about words; it’s about creating a world where everyone belongs.
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