CDC releases new guidelines with ‘preferred terms,’ claims to be pursuing inclusive language

Conservative News DailyAugust 29, 2021

ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 05: A podium with the logo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Tom Harkin Global Communications Center on October 5, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new guide to promote health equity, suggesting what it is calling more inclusive language. The guidelines released earlier this week are intended to offer alternative terms for words like “inmate,” “alcoholics” and “drug-user.”

It has instead suggested saying “persons who are detained,” “persons with alcohol use disorder” and “people who inject drugs.” Other terms include “self-reported income in the lowest bracket” instead of “poor” or “yet to receive inoculation” for those who refuse the vaccine.

The CDC’s guide suggests, “language in communication products should reflect and speak to the needs of people in the audience of focus.”

Are you using #inclusive language? CDC’s Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication shares preferred terms and language. https://t.co/ppe64URTzx.

— CDC (@CDCgov) August 27, 2021

In addition, for those who identify as genetically male or female, it now suggests “assigned or designated male or female at birth” as the correct term.

“Consider the context and the audience to determine if language used could potentially lead to negative assumptions, stereotyping, stigmatization, or blame,” reads the guide.