The Language of Diversity
- Amy Slagell (Iowa State University)
Abstract
The philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein wrote, “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” Recognizing the role of language in not only communicating a world view, but also in shaping the world in which we live, is important to the work of building an inclusive campus. Faculty and staff who want to contribute to university goals related to diversity and inclusion sometimes struggle to speak as they become aware of the limitations of their own understanding and of the complexities of language use surrounding discussions of diversity. Our language and our worlds can be constrained by the labels and categories that others, including federal agencies, use. During this session we’ll look at the power of language in the context of diversity and share some concrete steps faculty and staff can take to communicate their commitment to inclusion and to shape a healthy campus community.