More often than not, I hear people talking about others in a demeaning way. Most of the time, the ridicule centers around differences between the two people, with the “joker” being perceived as superior. The effects of satire can be detrimental to the victim including, but not limited to internalized sexism, internalized racism, depression, and even suicide. With side effects like this, is it really worth it to make fun of someone JUST because they’re different? Do you realize what you’re actually saying when you saying things like:
“That’s SO gay!”
Do you mean “That’s so stupid, dumb, or irrelevant?” There are plenty of others words to use, yet the one chosen is potentially harmful to another individual. It is possible that when that was said someone had just started identifying as gay. Now, using gay as a term that’s negative, the individual may feel as if it’s a bad thing. Maybe now that individual is afraid to tell anyone else of their sexual orientation.
“That’s retarded/He or she is slow.”
By taking on this phrase, one is insulting a large part of our community. DisABLED individuals make up about 56.7 million people. That’s a lot of people and a lot of wonderful people to insult. (Do you know why I put ABLED in capital letters? Because most individuals that possess a disability do not think of themselves as having a disability, and their disability does not affect the type of person they are. It is important to understand that!) How would you feel if someone insulted you based on what they saw on the outside?
“He/she throws, acts, runs like a girl.”
By using this insult, one is saying that the worst possible thing for someone to be is a girl. Fun fact: the worst possible thing you can be is NOT a girl! Girls are wonderful. There have been 44 women in the Senate since its inception, recently two women graduated from the Army’s Ranger School, and like it or not there is a woman running (and gaining traction) for the President of the United States. Women and girls are wonderful creatures, and by using this it is possible that they might internalize the sexism. The definition of internalized sexism is believing all the negative things one might say about a particular woman’s abilities and then living your life in that way.
So hey, Accept that there will always be people different from you. Don’t judge them based on how they’re perceived because everyone is wonderful in their own special way. Be aware of how your words hurt and be aware of what you’re saying. Diversity is a way of life and will be as long as the sun shines on this beautiful earth!