Page 35 - ASCO Cultural Competency Toolkit

Table: Recommendations for Inclusive Language
(Adapted from Campbell, 2019, Counseling@Northwestern)
RACE AND ETHNICITY
USE
AVOID
Black, African American
Colored, inner-city, urban
White
Caucasian
Asian, of Asian descent
Oriental
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
USE
AVOID
People with low-income
At-risk, need, disadvantaged
People experiencing poverty
The poor
People experiencing homelessness, people who are homeless or unhoused
The homeless
Person who is not currently employed
The unemployed
SEX AND GENDER
USE
AVOID
Different sex
Opposite sex
Transgender man/woman/person
Transgendered, transsexual, transgendered
Nonbinary, gender diverse
Gender-neutral
Assigned (male/female) at birth
Born a (boy/girl), biologically (male/female)
Gender confirmation surgery
Sex change, sex reassignment surgery
cisgender
Normal
Is (a man/a woman/ nonbinary)
Identifies as (a man/a woman/ nonbinary)
Pronouns
Preferred Pronouns
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
USE
AVOID
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, queer (for identity), Men who have sex with men, women who have sex with women (for behavior)
Non-straight, homosexual
Sexual orientation
Sexual preference, lifestyle choice, sexual
identity
Spouse, partner
Husband, Wife*
Parent, guardian
Mother, father*
GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY
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