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Bad
Here is a list of banned words and stereotypes that are used as guidelines by
writers, editors and illustrators while preparing textbooks and tests for
students:
*blind leading the blind: banned as handicapism
*busybody:
banned as sexist, demeaning to older women
*courageous: banned as
patronizing when referring to a person with disabilities
*egghead: banned as
offensive, replace with "intellectual"
*fairy: banned because it suggests
homosexuality, replace with "elf"
*Founding Fathers: banned as sexist,
replace with "the Founders" or "the Framers"
*jungle: banned, replace with
"rain forest"
*mentally ill: banned as offensive, replace with "person with
a mental or emotional disability"
*one-man band: banned as sexist, replace
with "one-person performance"
*polo: banned as elitist
*senile: banned
as demeaning to older people
*senior citizen: banned as demeaning to older
people
*snowman: banned, replace with "snow person"
*tomboy: banned as
sexist
Here are some images that are to be avoided:
*women as more nurturing
than men
*men as active problem solvers
*men playing with sports or
working with tools
*girls as peaceful, emotional and warm
*pioneer woman
riding in covered wagon while man walks
*African Americans who are baggage
handlers
*Native Americans with long hair, braids, headbands
*Asian
Americans as very intelligent, excellent scholars
*Hispanics who are warm,
expressive and emotional
*older people who have a twinkle in their eyes
Source:
: Diane Ravitch, author of The Language Police, How Pressure
Groups Restrict What Students Learn
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