Language is a powerful tool that shapes our thoughts, interactions, and society as a whole. However, language can also become a barrier when it carries biases that exclude or marginalise certain groups of people. At St John’s Foundation, we are committed to creating inclusive communities where everyone feels valued and respected.

What is Language Bias?

Language bias occurs when words, phrases, or expressions reflect negative attitudes towards certain groups of people. It often involves stereotyping of gender, race, age, disability or other characteristics that make individuals who they are. It can touch on exclusion as specific terms can make certain groups feel invisible, or demeaning language can belittle individuals based on their identity. Consistent use of these terms can lead to people feeling isolated.

The word ‘disadvantaged’ is a common place phrase and one which most people can understand and use in various contexts. However, we believe that when referring to inequality across our community, nothing should be commonplace and language should be used with the care and understanding with which we would all wish to have our problems approached. In the past, we used the word disadvantaged, much like others in the charity sector, to describe people who had faced adversity in one way or another. The active change followed a speech from philanthropist, Olivia Taylor, who spoke candidly about the effects of being labelled in an incredibly moving video. Since watching it, we have made the conscious decision to move toward using the term ‘under-served’ to describe those who we can help as a charity.

When it comes to children in schools, labels are often used to categorise behaviour and ability. Even in early years settings, labels such as ‘gifted’ or ‘under-achieving’ or even ‘naughty’ can be used which can make parents worry and children of primary school age stand out as somebody different. Some might think ‘gifted’ is a positive label to have, but it can lead to multiple connotations and perceptions, such as a child being from a wealthy family for example. It can also put pressure on children to feel like they need to consistently succeed.

On the other hand, there is often an assumption that children from a low socioeconomic background will be under-achieving and all of those in lower-ability groups will be ‘badly behaved’. Grouping children by these labels can exacerbate issues that are associated with labels and can impact their wellbeing.

As mentioned in an article by Children and Young People Now, once a child has been labelled, it often sticks with them and follows them through the school from teacher to teacher. It can impact their confidence, self-esteem and general wellbeing, influencing their education and their development as an individual.

We also avoid negative labels for our almshouse residents. The residents’ ages range from 65 to over a hundred and our priority is to support them to live a happy, independent life. By calling them ‘elderly’ or ‘old people’ much like society does, we immediately put them into a category where they may be perceived as less independent and incapable of doing things they enjoy. Instead, we use the term ‘older adults’ to describe our almshouse residents and it certainly suits their vibrant, activity packed lives.

At St John’s Foundation, we believe that everyone has a role to play in reducing language bias and there are a number of things we can do to tackle it together. It’s important to educate ourselves and others about the impact language bias can have. It’s also essential to remember that nobody is perfect and we should all be actively reflecting on our own language use to ensure we respect all individuals.

Language is a powerful tool for creating inclusive communities where everyone, no matter what their age, feels like they can thrive. By being mindful of language bias and actively working to eliminate it, we can ensure that everyone feels respected and valued. At St John’s Foundation, our work within the local community is driven by our mission to affect change in the lives of those who are marred by stark disparities, inequality, and inequity in their daily lives.