Words matter: a call for humanizing and respectful language to describe people who experience incarceration

Tran, NT; Baggio, S; Dawson, A; O'Moore, É; Williams, B; Bedell, P; Simon, O; Scholten, W; Getaz, L; Wolff, H

Words matter: a call for humanizing and respectful language to describe people who experience incarceration

Tran, NT

Baggio, S Dawson, A

O'Moore, É Williams, B Bedell, P Simon, O Scholten, W Getaz, L Wolff, H

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC international health and human rights, 2018, 18 (1), pp. 41 - ?
Issue Date:: 2018-11-16

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tran, NT https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7134-7878	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Baggio, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dawson, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0926-2202	en_US
dc.contributor.author	O'Moore, É	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Williams, B	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Bedell, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Simon, O	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Scholten, W	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Getaz, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wolff, H	en_US
dc.date.available	2018-10-31	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-11-16	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	BMC international health and human rights, 2018, 18 (1), pp. 41 - ?	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/128606
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Words matter when describing people involved in the criminal justice system because language can have a significant impact upon health, wellbeing, and access to health information and services. However, terminology used in policies, programs, and research publications is often derogatory, stigmatizing, and dehumanizing. DISCUSSION: In response, health experts from Europe, the United States, and Australia recommend that healthcare professionals, researchers, and policy makers working with people in detention follow key principles that foster constructive and humanizing language. These principles include: engage people and respect their preferences; use stigma-free and accurate language; prioritize individuals over their characteristics; and cultivate self-awareness. The article offers examples of problematic terms to be avoided because they do not convey respect for incarcerated people and propose preferred wording which requires contextualization to local language, culture, and environment. CONCLUSION: The use of respectful and appropriate language is a cornerstone of reducing harm and suffering when working with people involved in the criminal justice system; the use of stigmatizing and dehumanizing language must therefore come to an end.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC international health and human rights	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/s12914-018-0180-4	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Public Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Human Rights	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Prisons	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Prisoners	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	United States	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Europe	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Terminology as Topic	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Social Stigma	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Respect	en_US
dc.title	Words matter: a call for humanizing and respectful language to describe people who experience incarceration	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	18	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	18	en_US

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Words matter when describing people involved in the criminal justice system because language can have a significant impact upon health, wellbeing, and access to health information and services. However, terminology used in policies, programs, and research publications is often derogatory, stigmatizing, and dehumanizing. DISCUSSION: In response, health experts from Europe, the United States, and Australia recommend that healthcare professionals, researchers, and policy makers working with people in detention follow key principles that foster constructive and humanizing language. These principles include: engage people and respect their preferences; use stigma-free and accurate language; prioritize individuals over their characteristics; and cultivate self-awareness. The article offers examples of problematic terms to be avoided because they do not convey respect for incarcerated people and propose preferred wording which requires contextualization to local language, culture, and environment. CONCLUSION: The use of respectful and appropriate language is a cornerstone of reducing harm and suffering when working with people involved in the criminal justice system; the use of stigmatizing and dehumanizing language must therefore come to an end.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/128606