When First Lady Barbara Bush died this year, a TV commentator said she was “sharp as a tack.” Better to treat people of any age as individuals. It suggests the norm is confusion, and that a particular individual is astute despite their age. Specifically, these words, when used to describe older people, have negative implications. This expression means “extremely clever or astute.” Who wouldn’t want to claim this attribute? But like the other expressions mentioned in this article, “sharp as a tack,” when referring to certain groups has a negative tinge. So talk about idealism, yes, but do so in the context of specifics, not vast generalities about a group. It suggests that this generation is out of touch with reality. The implication is that these “idealists” are not interested in hard work or pursuing difficult paths to success. Those are admirable qualities.īut the word can be pejorative when describing Millennials or other young people. This term praises those who value ideas and set lofty goals for themselves.
For example, don’t say “Jeremy Lin is a well-rounded athlete.” Say, “Jeremy Lin, who is a star basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks, has a Harvard University degree in economics and is fluent in both Chinese and English.” 4. But do it not by juxtaposing “athlete” or “professor” with “well-rounded.” Simply describe the breadth of accomplishments of that person. And why can’t a Nobel Prize winner in physics also be an excellent tennis player.Īpplaud any athlete (or scholar) you know for his or her breadth of knowledge and accomplishment. Such a generalization demeans the many athletes who give back to their communities or have remarkable second careers when their playing days are over. If you have to qualify “athlete” with “well-rounded” the implication is that athletes are not generally well rounded. This expression compliments individuals whose talents shine in various disciplines such as academics, sports, and the arts.īut when used to describe an athlete, or even a distinguished scholar, the expression implicitly reinforces stereotypes. But when you express that view, try saying “Malik gets people,” or “Sarah is a consistently thoughtful person.” It’s important to recognize that of course both men and women can and frequently do have a sensitive side. “Sensitive” can suggest “overly sensitive,” unable to take criticism or a joke. When it is applied to men, the word plays against the stereotype of what many think of as “male”–qualities like boldness, strength, and authority. It’s often used to imply that she is too “emotional” to lead or be taken seriously. But the word “sensitive” has long been used as a backhanded compliment towards women. SensitiveĪt face value, this word is normally a positive description of someone who has emotional intelligence, and uses that ability to express feelings and interpret the feelings of others. Simply say, “She is confident and well spoken,” or “I like Sara’s willingness to speak up at meetings.” 2. So scrap the label and find alternatives for describing female colleagues and acquaintances. Too many individuals still link “assertive” with unattractive qualities like aggressiveness and bossiness. But when used simply as a label for a particular woman (“Maria is certainly assertive”), the word can take on negative overtones. Indeed, in my book, Taking the Stage: How Women Can Speak Up, Stand out, and Succeed, I emphasize that women should be assertive. We often use this word for friends or colleagues, who are confident and well-spoken. The following six common words and phrases may seem positive, but come loaded with a lot of baggage.
0 kommentar(er)
