Here are nine words commonly used to describe race. Which of these words do you think are normally considered ok to use and which do you think are best avoided?
- Coloured
- Ethnic
- Black
- Half-caste
- White
- Asian
- Mixed-race
- Negro
- Non-white
Scroll down to reveal the answers.
Quiz Answers: how diversity-aware is your language?
When we re-examine our choice of words we can see how some words can cause offense.
The following words are generally considered ok to use:
- Black
- White
- Asian
- Mixed-race
These words are best avoided:
- Coloured – historically used to imply unequal status
- Ethnic – everyone has an ‘ethnic origin’ of some kind and it is wrong to imply that only some people are ‘ethnic’
- Half-caste
- Negro – this word has historically racist overtones and should never be used
- Non-white – this implies that a person is classified only by their exclusion from the ‘white’ group
Do
Challenge discrimination in any form; don’t ignore it
Encourage questions and answer them directly
Ask if you’re not sure what term to use: black, white or mixed-race? Asian or Chinese? Ask parents which words they want you to use.
For more information on teaching diversity awareness to childminded children and for a Diversity Awareness Pack filled with practical activities you can do to promote difficult diversity topics in your setting visit http://kidstogo.co.uk/childminders/Diversity.html
