If you haven’t heard by now, let me be the first to tell you: the word “retarded” is officially out of style.
Using the R-word as an insult hurts because it is exclusive and offensive. Retarded was originally the politically correct term for someone that had an intellectual disability. From there, it developed into a derogatory slang word to be synonymous with "stupid" or "dumb." However, since 2010, congress passed a bill that eliminates the use of the r-word in health, education, and labor laws. That's right, folks, there is literally never a reason to use it.
Special Olympics and Best Buddies teamed up to start a campaign that spread awareness for the harm that this word can cause, and each year the first Wednesday of March is dedicated to promoting respectful, people-first language.
People-first language essentially means that you define the individual by their noun before you state their disability. For example, rather than saying "an autistic child" you just say "a child with autism." Basically, making sure that you don't define the individual by their disability.
Throughout my time volunteering with individuals with disabilities, I have met some truly incredible people that make me happier than I knew I could be. They bring out the best in me, and make me smile more than anyone else I know. They are worth so much more than a slang synonym for stupid.
When you use the word retard(ed) as a synonym for stupid, you're dehumanizing and excluding those with intellectual disabilities. People with those intellectual disabilities hear you using that word, recognize it as an insult, and then they identify with the adjective. Therefore, when you use it as an insult, it can come across to them that you think all people with disabilities are stupid; imagine how you'd feel if something you identified with was used as an insult.
Up to three percent of the world's population have intellectual disabilities, that's around 200 million people. In fact, most of us know someone personally that has an intellectual disability. So if you use "retard" even in a joking context, over 200 million people see it as a cruel and vulgar slur.
So what can you do to make a difference? Start small. If you hear the word being used, speak up about why it matters. If every person takes just a small step in the right direction, together we can walk far. You can also take the pledge to eliminate the R-Word from your vocabulary, and use people-first, respectful language. Simply visit www.r-word.org today to share your story and join the 500,000+ people that have taken the pledge!
Remember: Language affects attitudes. Attitudes impact actions. Make sure you are making the right impact on the language, attitudes and actions around you.
