Commentary - The power behind derogatory terms

News > Commentary - The power behind derogatory terms

The power behind derogatory terms

Posted 12/14/2011

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Commentary by Staff Sgt. Candice Compton
28th Bomb Wing Equal Opportunity Office

12/14/2011 - ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFNS) -- Derogatory comments are comprised of words that tend or intend to detract, disparage or belittle and can often be considered offensive. Derogatory words have the power to hurt and potentially cause violence or other forms of hostility. The origins of these disparaging/derogatory terms can depend on geographic location, history and culture of a particular region. The list of derogatory words based on religion, race, ethnicity, sex, color and disability among others is growing as people find new words to categorize a particular group with the intent to demean or persecute.

Everyone has a particular bias. Their bias, combined with experiences or encounters with members of a particular group, will at times determine the use and meaning of these terms.

People resort to using disparaging terms when logic fails to resolve a disagreement or conflict. For some, it's often easier to use ignorant, destructive, yet powerful strategies consisting of insults, generalizations, detrimental stereotypes and profanity to support their argument. These profane words lack any inherent truth about any group of people.

Derogatory terms are ingrained in our society. They can often be heard in the workplace, music, movies and social media. Referring to someone as "bitch," "redneck," "gay," "retarded," "nigga," or similar words while playfully joking around is still offensive. By using these terms, it associates members of a particular group with behavior, beliefs or actions that are extremely negative. People can use these so called jokes or terms as a way of expressing how they truly feel.

In accordance with Air Force policy, use of disparaging terms is considered to be a form of unlawful discrimination. In addition to communicating hate or contempt for others, these terms have a negative impact on individuals, the mission and the installation's human relations climate. This form of unlawful discrimination causes decreased productivity, legal issues and loss of credibility. Air Force policy states that disparaging terms contribute to a hostile work environment and will not be tolerated. This zero tolerance policy ensures that once a complaint is alleged, immediate and appropriate action will be taken to address the issue and ensure the behavior stops.

Everyone regardless of rank has a responsibility to respect one and all. Air Force core values state that Air Force members will show mutual respect. Genuine respect involves viewing another person as an individual of fundamental worth. This means members should not be judged on the basis of his or her possession of an attribute that places him or her in some racial, ethnic, economic or gender-based category. If that type of behavior is condoned or left uncorrected, disparaging terms and comments will eventually become the norm and result in a loss of integrity and promote an unhealthy work environment.

By becoming more aware of the power that words have, each individual should consider taking the time to think before speaking and recognize that some words may be offensive to others.

Comments

1/6/2012 7:32:20 AM ET
AF not my employer of choiceWhen you make comments like that it speaks leaps and bounds about your character - especially when you have to hide behind internet anonymity.Unfortunately it is the people like you that make these programs necessary.

Andrew, Andrews AFB

1/5/2012 5:45:07 PM ET
AF not my employer of choice VA Good job on the name calling. Common knowledge doesn't seem to resonate from you despite what you're saying about it being customary to treat each other with dignity. Let me help you find your tongue young man regardless of where you are and not just in the workplace this should always be the case in dealing with others which you have so eloquently failed to display in this open forum. Your employer of choice that is if you have one would be PROUD. Evolution is a constant phenomenon it sounds like you may have missed that boat as well. Class dismissed. You can find your way out I'm sure. Oops..did I offend you If the shoe fits I suggest you lace it up or is that not common enough for you

MSgt Henry Thomas aka Old Hat, BLV

1/5/2012 1:45:19 PM ET
I fully support the initiative to draw down the forces. I believe the Air Force should be contracted out. You all make way too much money to sit around and do squat. Airmen in general are incompetent and not worth anything on the outside. Real successful people work in the private sector and the Air Force is for losers who can't cut it in the real world and need someone to dictate they and their families lives for them.Oops did I offend you. Sorry...Just know anywhere else it's common knowledge to treat each other with dignity in the workplace and leave the prejedicial biases at home with your spouse and kids. For you old hats its because of you that EEO has been implemented. Human beings have evolved somewhat since your time. And to Ret SMSgt DC it's evident why you failed to make Chief...

AF not my employer of choice, VA

1/5/2012 1:05:28 PM ET
@Dan F. I don't believe you'd have an EO case. The basis of the article is derogatory words not profanity. Derogatory can be defined as disparaging, belittling while profanity is abusive, vulgar or irreverent language. This doesn't mean a person offended by profanity would have no case, however. It'd be more of an 'in-shop deal with.' Running it up the chain of command, hopefully not having to go past your supervisor, or if it's your subordinate, explain the professionalism or lack there of when using such profanities or dealing with the individual with the foul mouth to resolve it at the one-on-one level before running to the improper channels. So.. each scenario may lack professionalism in use but there are the proper channels to deal with both.

A1C Crane, Travis AFB

1/5/2012 9:09:06 AM ET
@ Random Airman. Whether the term ends in an a or and r it doesn't matter. It insinuates a derogatory slur towards blacks and the fact that you and your friends call each other that does not make it acceptable. There needs to be one standard and not a double one. For example my son was riding the DODDS school bus where two black boys were calling each other the N word. My son not even knowing what it meant called one of the boys that and they freaked and told the bus driver. My son was suspended from riding the bus because of DODDS zero tolerance. They two black boys were not disciplined. DODDS till this day say they don't have a double standard.

Listening, in DC

1/5/2012 8:02:20 AM ET
While I understand the intent of the article. I also think the intent of words need to be considered. What if I was raised in a very strict home and consider any swear word offensive Do I have a case Fortunately I wasn't and am not offended easily. BTW if the word redneck is added to the list I will have to throw away half my wardrobe. Just sayin'

Dan F, Rock Island IL

1/4/2012 5:07:06 PM ET
I personally think everyone replying here is missing the mark as many have stated. As you're sitting here justifying what you find offensive and trying to exclaim why one word is or one word isn't offensive you're categorizing yourself as the article implies. Bottom line What doesn't offend you MAY offend someone else. That was the mark here. On or off duty if you're currently enlisted or commisioned you're a professional. Act like an adult and don't use the words at all. However the most valid point here being that a list of some sort needs to be generated. Because not everyone does understand what is offensive and why it needs no explanation if a list of don't say's is generated and without question. I think the EO could benefit from that instead of taking each 'he said she said' case by case basis.

A1C, Travis AFB

1/4/2012 2:45:11 PM ET
This article is a joke. There is so much hypocrisy surrounding the use of these so called derogatory terms and who uses them that the intent is useless. Black airman calls another black airman n---a no problem. White airman calls black airman n---a he's in front of the commander the next day and visiting MEO for the next 6 months. Black airman calls white airman a cracker shame shame but probably not going to get him it much trouble. Double standards erode the validity of the standard's intent. Same rules for everyone in this instance or no rules at all.

Chris Kimball, Indiana

1/4/2012 2:09:17 PM ET
Great article SSgt Compton. I REALLY want to comment on some of the thoughts from below but that would go against some of the very things EEO stands for. BUT I'm glad some of these people are retired too

Charity, AUAB

1/3/2012 10:06:01 AM ET
I see that EEO is still trying to make itself relevant again.Some things never change.

Retired, Arizona

1/3/2012 6:43:01 AM ET
Who determines which words are offensive? Are they treated the same? If someone calls another person a redneck, will they really be subjected to immediate punishment as stated in the article? While I appreciate the intent behind this article, I'm just not sure if the enforcement of the policy is clear and consistent. Is this even really a policy? Specifically, which policy addresses specific punishment for each word or is it up to Commander's discretion, which lends itself to inconsistency? What words are banned? How is it enforced? Is there a list?

Joel., UK

1/1/2012 2:32:53 PM ET
Hey Random, I do not believe you. If I as a white German-American called you n---a, you would be OK with that? No, you would not, you'd want to take me out. Maybe the rest of us don't get the difference between the word ending with R and one ending with A. You don't want n----r, but you perpetuate its racist use by calling each other n---a. Make up your mind, you cannot have it both ways.

DMPI, Al JBAB DC

12/31/2011 6:08:48 AM ET
We are victims of our own society. Our ACLU has put everybody on egg shells. Until everyone is a human being instead of white, black, green, male, female in the military it can never be equal. We have double standards when it comes to equality. How about looking at by total force instead of career field to see what QUOTA should be promoted. How about one month to recognize the human rather than the nationality, color or gender. The disparaging terms are typical within the given race, we all know where it's happening. I do believe we all have equal opportunity in the AF, so get rid of all the discriminators like race, gender and such.

Dave, Korea

12/31/2011 12:09:43 AM ET
So glad to see that fag, cracker and spook were not on the list... I think that English cigarettes, biscuits and apparitions would have been offended. Maybe we need a AF version of George Carlin's 7 Dirty Words for the next mutual respect CBT.

JAFSO, COS CO

12/29/2011 12:48:44 PM ET
I agree with the article's intent. Disparaging terms don't have a place in today's AF. But what is the standard? Training Issue is right--where is the list of words that are considered disparaging. We cannot use the standard that if the word offends someone, it can't be used because we all know we have some overly sensitive people in the USAF.

Chief W-Retired, Tennessee Valley

12/29/2011 9:39:41 AM ET
The word gay is more often used as a homophobic slur, not as a derogatory term against gay people. A word that I would take offense to would be fag. This has a bit more of a bite to it and is used often.

Scott Coomer, Altus AFB OK

12/29/2011 9:27:22 AM ET
How about another 5 hours of foucused subject matter CBTs? I love SARC and MEO briefings given by Airman or NCOs that have yet to master the English language by any means. Keep up the good work by sending out letters and memos packed with common knowledge information. The AF generates more spam these days.

TSgt Picka, MDL

12/29/2011 8:50:30 AM ET
If an Airman perpetuates a stereotype out of uniform and their behavior carries over into uniform, which is often the case, what's the problem? Derogatory terms have continued to be around because the people they describe do nothing to change their behavior. If black people didn't continually call each other ngga, would this really be an issue? Would this term have died 40 years ago?

Same, Here

12/29/2011 8:38:49 AM ET
While I appreciate the article and the comments associated, I feel that I must address the Maj. The derogatory terms used by the writer were mearly used to illustrate the view point and were not used in any negative context. Furthermore, the writer did in fact conduct research prior to posting the article. Please note that the AF core values are more in depth than just what one sees on paper or what one hears at every commander's call. Please conduct a google search and you will find the underlying aspects of our core values. Which in fact the writer of the arictle used word for word. There are AF websites that go into great detail explaining all aspects of the core values. Please note that I feel an apology from you to the writer is necessary.

Sgt, NJ

12/29/2011 6:36:42 AM ET
Wow. First I'd like to say I'm sooo glad I'm retired. Now, according to SSgt Compton, on top of all the PC-ness and the repeal of DADT, airman have to worry about bad words as well. What's next? Is some whiney airman going to take offense the next time an NCO tells him or her to Get their asses in gear? This reminds me of a sad time in Air Force history when in the mid 90's during the Clinton years basic trainees had time out cards to pull on TI's that were yelling at them too much. Perhaps the Air Force should actually institute that email joke form that makes the rounds every few years. You know, the Hurt Feelings Report. God help us in the next war if this is becoming the prevelant thinking in the military. And why does the Air Force even have an EEO office? I thought there were manning shortages. At least there were when I retired in 06. Perhaps SSgt Compton could better serve the country in an AFSC that is more geared toward actual warfighting and leave the PC stuff t

Ret SMSgt, DC

12/28/2011 6:35:55 PM ET
I don't believe the words nigga or redneck are derogetory terms. I am an african american/puerto rican Airman and grew up saying the nigga version of the N word with my peers and not the hard R version, which is offensive. The word is used in place of the words dude or buddy etc. It is 2011 and I honestly would not be offended if a white person used the letter a version of the term because to me the word has no derogetory meaning. Also growing up in southern Ohio, the word redneck is used on bumper stickers and worn on T-Shirts. I have friends I grew up with that would consider themselves rednecks and are proud of it. I have also heard this term used in country music and it never gets bleeped out so I had no idea it was offensive. Don't get me wrong, though. I do understand why it is innappropriate to use in the work place.

Random Airman, ohio

12/28/2011 5:10:05 PM ET
To MAJ SWA: It's obvious you've never actualy read the little blue book that defines our core values and explains the mentality that must be behind those values. In the section under Excellence in All We Do, it explains that mutual respect for one another is a crucial aspect of what it means to be in the profesion of arms and to be an Airman in the United States Air Force. It's easy to sit back and pick apart the things that others write or try to do. I think some people would be beter off staying quiet than to try to pull others down to their level. At least give the author the benefit of the doubt and check out the information before publicly questioning her research. Great Article SSgt Compton.

MSgt Brian Potvin, Laughlin AFB TX

12/27/2011 7:20:06 PM ET
Can we get a list of the words that are banned? If there's a zero tolerance policy then there aren't any warnings so we need to be informed of what is legal to say and what is not.

Training Issue, UK

12/23/2011 7:59:14 PM ET
You used derogatory terms in an article about how we should not use derogatory terms...brilliant Also, while certainly a commonly held value among airmen, mutual respect is not one of our core values. Please stop making stuff up just because you can't find or don't want to put in the effort to find facts that support your argument. That violates one of our actual core values integrity first.

Maj, SWA

12/23/2011 12:07:37 PM ET
Do gay people find the word gay offensive? Words that one person disparages as offensive are and can be terms of endearment to others. Depicting words as offensive can to some extent empower their offensiveness thus often defeating one's best of intentions. Do people have a concise list of derogatory words as a reference for their choice to discriminate against certain words? Aren't the words offensive, derogatory, disparaging, ignorant and destructive considered negative? Words per se don't _cause_ hurt or violence; people being hypersensitive to words who exercise unfortunate judgment can cause violence.But remember--beating the snot out of someone just because she called you a son of a bitch is not civilized or legally justified for that matter.

Stuart, Schriever AFB

12/20/2011 6:28:22 PM ET
I am an openly gay Airman serving on active duty. While I believe the intent of this article is to provide some genuine and effectual advice, I think is misses the mark with regards to the term gay being offensive to homosexuals. I cant imagine a scenario where I would ever take offense to someone calling me gay. That would be akin to me taking offense with someone calling me human. Being gay is simply who I am, thus I fail to see how being called gay could possibly offend.

William Britton, Nellis AFB

12/19/2011 1:28:08 PM ET
Agree that disparaging terms like those noted in the commentary have no place in today's society or AF. However, we need to ensure the enforcement of that goes both ways. If a white person calls a black person the N word or a guy calls a woman a bitch, it should not be tolerated. What also should not be tolerated is two blacks calling each other the N word, two guys calling each other a bitch, etc. I've seen it and it's unacceptable to have a double standard. Keep that kind of language out of the workplace period.

Listening, in DC

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