Amongst the dozens of controversial topics that are swirling around our social media of choice lately, there is one topic in particular that I feel should not have a controversy around it at all. There are many things millennials are called these days, and oversensitive is oftentimes one of them. Millennials are accused of being overly sensitive to what people do or say, so much so that there is usually a fuss made about it.
One thing that I will continue to be "oversensitive" about until it is beat into the ground is the very language we use every day, and the choices we make while using it. I am not concerned about keeping four letter words harbored, rather, about the language that is more commonly used; common words that are often seen as a non-issue, yet, there are consequences to the language that we choose. Our words have power, and we have the power over the words that we put out into the universe every day.
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For me, it is important to be intentional about the language that I choose because I could be putting someone I care about down, in an uncomfortable or in an unwanted position. There are a wide range of words that are casually used to demean entire groups and communities of people, yet there are a specific few that I hear or read with regularity.
Most commonly what I hear almost daily from people of all ages is the use of the word "gay" as an insult, with usage usually starting amongst junior-high aged boys to degrade one another. Having close friends in the LGBTQIA+ community whom I dearly love, I cannot fathom using language like "gay" to put someone down, or other words that have been thrown out for decades. With that, some people in the LGBTQIA+ community prefer different pronouns than what may be assumed by the expression of their outward appearance. I've heard time and time again that it is just too hard to use the pronoun that may seem wrong, or that using they/them is not "grammatically correct," and heaven forbid we make a grammatical error in our speech. I promise, if there is a person in your life whom you care about, and using pronouns they prefer makes them more comfortable, it is not too difficult. Push yourself.
As an education major, I have had the opportunity to learn about the broad range of mental and physical disorders and disabilities that are part of the lives of our friends and family. Using first person language by referring to the individual first, rather than describing someone by their disability is an important step in practicing positive and respectful language. Since I personally have learned so much about the "R" word and have spent time with people with disabilities, now using that particular word makes me cringe.
Mental illnesses have a "don't ask don't tell" type of stigma in this age. Words like "depression" and "bipolar" are thrown around like nobody's business to describe a day of sadness or a person that cannot make up their mind. When in fact, depression and bipolar disorder are legitimate parts of people's lives. When we claim to be "depressed" when we are not, or accuse someone of being bipolar because their emotions aren't perfectly in line, we are minimizing the reality of the disorders. Using these words casually or as exaggerations is eliminating the opportunity to talk about them in a safe place other than behind closed doors.
What it all comes down to is the idea that if I could be hurting someone I love with the words I use, then I want to make the conscious effort to not use those words. So I encourage you to be "oversensitive," be the voice for those who are being marginalized. It may take an extra second of thought before you speak, make a joke, or write a tweet, but that extra second will build relationships and show that you care. My mom told me for the first several years of my life to think before I speak and by doing so and using basic consideration and kindness, your intentions will spread, and so will the love.
