“Beyond the Binary: Practical Advice for Using Gender Pronouns”

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Choose 1 of the following resources and read it before responding to the discussion questions:

“Beyond the Binary: Practical Advice for Using Gender Pronouns” from the University Library
Bias-Free Language page on the APA Style website
Socioeconomic Status page on the APA Style website
Intersectionality page on the APA Style website

Part 2: Response
Provide a minimum 175-word response to the following questions using information from the resource you selected in Part 1:

What questions might you ask yourself about your audience as you approach a writing task for work?
How are your communication relationships at home similar to or different from those at work?
When you communicate with others through writing, how do you show respect or active listening?
What is 1 detail from the resource you selected in Part 1 that you might apply to writing for work, school, or home? Explain your response.
Identify (maybe even quote specifically) something you learned from this week’s learning activities and Chapter readings.

Part 3: Resource Credit
Practice giving credit to the resource you selected in Part 1 and used for your response in Part 2. Giving proper credit to your sources builds your credibility with your audience. Don’t worry about perfection. If you make a mistake, your faculty member can help, so please let your faculty member know if you have any questions.

Sample Solution

Considering Your Audience:

When approaching a writing task for work, I would ask myself several questions about my audience:

  • What is their level of expertise on the topic?Do they need a more basic explanation or can I use technical jargon?
  • What is their purpose for reading my work?Are they seeking information, making a decision, or completing a task?
  • What is their preferred communication style?Do they prefer formal writing or a more conversational tone?

Understanding my audience allows me to tailor my writing to their needs and ensure it effectively conveys the intended message.

Communication at Home vs. Work:

Communication at home and work share some similarities. Both require active listening, clear communication, and an understanding of the other person’s perspective. However, there are also key differences.

At home, communication can be more informal and relaxed, while work communication often requires a more professional tone. At work, there may also be a greater emphasis on hierarchy and following specific protocols compared to communication with family or friends.

Respectful Writing:

When communicating through writing, I show respect and active listening in several ways:

  • Using professional language:This demonstrates respect for the reader and the seriousness of the communication.
  • Addressing the reader by name:Personalization shows respect and helps build rapport.
  • Responding to questions and concerns:Showing that I value the reader’s input fosters a more positive communication environment.
  • Proofreading carefully:Taking the time to ensure my writing is error-free shows respect for the reader’s time and professionalism.

Applying Bias-Free Language:

One detail from the APA Style’s Bias-Free Language page (https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language) that I can apply broadly is using people-first language. For example, instead of saying “the disabled,” I can say “people with disabilities.” This emphasizes the personhood of individuals and avoids reducing them to a single characteristic.

I can use this principle in writing for work, school, and home by being mindful of the language I use and ensuring it is respectful and inclusive.

Learning from this Week:

This week, I learned the importance of considering intersectionality when discussing social issues (APA Style, Intersectionality https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language/intersectionality). Intersectionality acknowledges how various social identities (race, gender, class, etc.) can overlap and create unique experiences of privilege or oppression. This is important because a one-size-fits-all approach to social issues often overlooks the unique challenges faced by marginalized groups.

 

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