Charged Language in E1

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Charged Language in E1

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abryant

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Charged Language

English I
FFW:
What do you already know about charged language?
Why do you think it’s important to talk about? And, why
do you think it is important for this class in particular?
As you write, reflect on our course essential questions:
What does it mean to be home? Is home a place, a feeling, a
person, or something else? What are the freedoms and limitations
of home? What does it mean to belong? What is at stake in feeling
that one does not belong? Can one feel at home when they are
away from home?
what is charged language?

Words, phrases, symbols, or other visual culture that

have been used at certain points in history and/or
continue to be used as a way to exert power over or to
denigrate or dehumanize a group or community of
people by another group.

We will encounter charged language (and occasionally

images) in this course, and our approach to this
language will be informed by the Charged Language
Guidelines. An important distinction must be made
between bigoted slurs and discomfiting terms.
discomfiting term
bigoted slur
meets one or more of the following criteria:
a term that has almost
● has, at points in history, been viewed as
exclusively in its use been an acceptable identifier of a community
weaponized and meant to in academic, medical, legal, or general
degrade and disparage a circles of discourse often influenced by a
group of people based on dominant narrative.
● has historically once been used as a
their race, religion, sexual
self-identifier by the members of the
orientation, gender described community
identity, ability, ethnicity, ● might often be used inoffensively in other
or other identifiers with a contexts but becomes a slur when used
historical connection to in a disparaging way.
systemic oppression. ● often is not agreed upon within the
described community as being offensive.
discomfiting term
bigoted slur
When you encounter a discomfiting term
When you encounter a when reading aloud from or discussing a
bigoted slur when text in class, you may
reading aloud from or ● vocalize the term if it is being used in its
historical context and not in a
discussing a text in class,
disparaging way
you may ■ examples: NAACP (organization),
● pause over the word The Prep School Negro
● replace the word with (documentary film), quotations
the first letter + word or from certain primary sources
slur (e.g. “n-slur”) ● not vocalize the term to refer to a
group of people in present-day
When writing,
conversation or writing
● redact slurs, replacing When writing,
them as in point two ● you may write out the discomfiting
above term when it appears in a quotation
Some of these practices are new.

Some of these distinctions are subtle.

Let’s proceed thoughtfully and give

each other grace!
FFW:
Please take some time to process and respond to this
information in your notebook. What worries you?
What questions do you have? What do you need to
feel ready to encounter these terms and follow the
guidelines?

You are welcome–but not at all obligated– to share this with me.
Consider: what should I do when I
don’t know if a word is a bigoted slur
or a discomfiting term?
bigoted slur: “g-word”
➔ the g-word (g*psy) is a manifestation of Anti-Roma racism
◆ individual expressions and acts– and institutional policies
and practices– that marginalize, exclude, and devalue
Roma cultures and peoples
➔ these groups were particularly persecuted during the Nazi
regime, but their marginalized treatment as an “alien” group
continues today
◆ for example, it is estimated that close to 80% of the
Romani population was murdered in the Holocaust
➔ because of this ongoing–yet oft-ignored–dehumanization,
many people do not realize that g*psy is a bigoted slur
bigoted slur: “g-word”

➔ The g-word is considered a bigoted slur at Emma

➔ It will never be vocalized by any community members.

➔ It will sometimes appear in written primary sources;
however, I will do my best to redact it whenever possible.
◆ When used in a primary source, you can either read
aloud as “g-word” or substitute with
“Romani people” or “the Roma”
➔ I will also try to give you a content warning every time it
appears in a source.
Read:
“The G-Word Isn’t For You”
the g-word in “An Old Woman and Her Cat”

➔ Please note that this bigoted slur appears in “An Old Woman and Her Cat”:

“Her husband teased her, calling her a g*psy. She was in fact part g*psy, for
her mother had been one, but had chosen to leave her people and marry a
man who lived in a house. Fred Pennefather liked his wife for being different
from the run of the women he knew; and had married her because of it, but
her children were fearful that her g*psy blood might show itself in worse
ways than haunting railway stations. She was a tall woman with a lot of
glossy black hair, a skin that tanned easily, and dark strong eyes. She wore
bright colors, and enjoyed quick tempers and sudden reconciliations. In her
prime, she attracted attention, was proud and handsome. All this made it
inevitable that the people in those streets should refer to her as ‘that g*psy
woman.’ When she heard them, she shouted back that she was none the
worse for that.” (68)
FFW:
Now that you’ve spent some time considering
the g-word as a bigoted slur, why do you think
Lessing uses the term here? How is the slur
being used? Is the slur important to the story?
If so, how? Does this change your
understanding of the short story? Why?
Questions? Comments? Concerns?