Make It A Habit: Avoid Divisive Language

Words Matter
Divisive language turns up in headlines, political speeches, social feeds, and face-to-face interactions. You can make a difference by being aware of the phrases that perpetuate polarization and avoid using them.

1. It’s not a boxing match — using words that put us in our corners does just that. Many people and industries benefit from telling us that politics is binary, but it isn’t. Most people have a grab bag of political beliefs. Using only binary terms to describe ourselves and others perpetuates division. We all do it! It’s the easiest way to describe our division and current state of affairs; it often feels like the truth. Keep an eye out for how often you put us all in our corners, and remember the immortal words of Johnny from Dirty Dancing, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
2. Who is benefiting? Media, social media, and politicians all benefit from division. We aren’t saying that the individual coders, journalists, and political aides are out to destroy America, just that the systems are set up in a way that encourages divisive rhetoric. Since knowing is half the battle, be aware of how these systems work and give your attention (clicks, views, votes) to leaders in each field who are bucking the system and choosing solutions over division.
3. Keep it chill. There are ways to talk and disagree that avoid divisiveness, such as using language that signals your interest in that person’s perspective.

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