November EDI Corner - Inclusive Communication

Words matter! Improving equity is within the DNA of Dental Public Health, and we often talk about “underserved” or “vulnerable” populations as the targets of research, interventions, or initiatives. However, using those terms is problematic because they victimize and otherize people, and they aren’t specific about the ways in which particular populations face barriers to health or health care. 
For guidance on how to use more inclusive, person-centered language, the CDC recently released Principles for Inclusive Communication, and these two articles (Sotto-Santiago 2019 and Black, Cerdeña, and Spearman-McCarthy 2023) elucidate why we need to avoid using the term “minorities” when referring to people or groups who are racially minoritized. 
Here are some key inclusive communication tips from these resources as a start:

• Instead of “underserved populations”, try “people who face financial/transportation/etc. barriers to care”
• Instead of “low-SES populations”, try “people with lower income” or “people experiencing poverty”
• Instead of “Medicaid patients”, try “people with Medicaid”
• Instead of “disabled people”, try “people with an intellectual or developmental disability”
  • Note that some populations prefer identity-first terminology, such as Autistic people. 
• Instead of using racial identity as a noun (e.g., Blacks, Latinos, Whites), use it as an adjective (e.g., Black/Latino/White people/adults/children)

Regardless of our stage of life or career, we’re all on a journey toward communicating in ways that are more inclusive and empowering. Let’s keep working toward this goal together!