I'm not into the idea of "political correctness" for the sake of being politically correct, but I do embrace new terminology for the sake of people who are hurt by old or colloquial terminology that undermines truth or reinforces negative stereotypes.
Consider the list of terms below that are used to describe elements of adoption and notice how the "positive adoption language" on the right helps to reinforce the positive aspects of adoption - namely that all people within an adoption plan are worthy of respect and families created through adoption are just as real and important as families created through birth.
| Negative language | Positive language | |
| Real parent | Birthparent | |
| Natural parent | Biological parent | |
| Own child | Birth child | |
| Adopted child; Own child | My child | |
| Illegitimate | Born to unmarried parents | |
| Give up | Terminate parental rights | |
| Give away | Make an adoption plan | |
| To keep | To parent | |
| Adoptable child; Available child | Waiting child | |
| Begettor | Biological father | |
| Reunion | Making contact with | |
| Adoptive parent | Parent | |
| Foreign adoption | International adoption | |
| Adoption triangle | Adoption triad | |
| Disclosure | Permission to sign a release | |
| Track down parents | Search | |
| An unwanted child | Child placed for adoption | |
| Child taken away | Court termination | |
| Handicapped child | Child with special needs | |
| Foreign child | Child from abroad | |
| Is adopted | Was adopted |
No comments:
Post a Comment