Simple phrases like “Hey, guys,” “slave driver,” “he/she is crazy,” “You look so young,” and “You’re so articulate,” may seem relatively innocuous when you hear them around the office, but they can dredge up painful feelings for some individuals.
If you’re not familiar with the term “microaggression,” it’s probably because you’re not from a marginalized group that’s had to endure the statements, actions, or incidents that can be regarded as indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination.
But as Jenée Desmond-Harris wrote for a 2015 piece for Vox, “microaggressions are more than just insults, insensitive comments, or generalized jerky behavior. They’re something very specific: the kinds of remarks, questions, or actions that are painful because they have to do with a person’s membership in a group that’s discriminated against or subject to stereotypes. And a key part of what makes them so disconcerting is that they happen casually, frequently, and often without any harm intended, in everyday life.”
There’s a counter argument to the concept of microaggressions — that people offended by these casual, common phrases are just being too sensitive. It’s easy to say that when you’re not from a group that’s historically been subjected to bias, ridicule, and discrimination. It can be especially hurtful in the workplace, where professionals expect to succeed based on their merits and comments that everyone else tosses around without a second thought can feel subtly exclusionary.
So, what are some of these phrases that most of us have said around the office at one time or another, which should be jettisoned from our vocabulary? A lot of them have negative connotations for Native Americans, though other groups are certainly not left out. Read on to find out, along with suggestions for more appropriate alternatives.
Too many chiefs, and not enough Indians
Essentially, there are too many managers and not enough people to do the work.
Alternative: We need more people in support roles to get this project done.
Circle the wagons
The loose translation is “assume a defensive posture because we’re about to be attacked by savages.”
Alternative: Let’s band together and present a united front.
Hold down the fort
Again, this stems from the idea of protecting white settlers and soldiers against Native American “savages.”
Alternative: Keep things running smoothly while I’m away.
They’re on the warpath
In the office? Really? Who, exactly, have we issued a declaration of war with?
Alternative: Today might not be the best day to ask about that. Why not try again tomorrow?
Let’s have a powwow
Powwows are legitimate social gatherings for ceremonial and celebratory purposes. Your hour-long meeting to discuss why no one ever cleans out the office fridge is most definitely not a powwow.
Alternative: We’re going to have a quick meeting to discuss (fill in the blank).
Low man on the totem pole
Again, there’s no reason to denigrate the real, sacred cultural artifacts of people with throwaway comments.
Alternative: I have the least seniority.
Off the reservation
The implication is you’ve made a bad decision because you’re not thinking properly, but in this case the phrase has literal roots in the mid-19th century when Native Americans who were found “off the reservation” often faced dire consequences.
Alternative: Maybe we should give that decision a second thought to be sure we weren’t too hasty.
We got gypped
People understand the phrase to mean we got fooled or cheated, but the origin of the word “gyp” is from gypsy, or the Roma people who were discriminated against throughout Europe and often stereotyped as liars and cheats.
Alternative: We were ripped off.
We’ve got a sexy new product
A lot of professionals try to make their work sound more interesting, and sexy seems to be the go-to word for spicing up mundane things like spreadsheets. However, sex should be kept out of the workplace, especially when what you’re essentially saying is that the thing you’re talking about only has value because it’s attractive.
Alternative: Check out this really exciting new initiative.
They sold us down the river
It’s a reference to the slave trade, so just don’t say it.
Alternative: They just used us to get ahead.
(Continued)
Sometimes the best alternative is just to say nothing at all
There are times when curiosity or good intentions may cause us to say things without first thinking about how those comments might be received. Business Insider recommends saying nothing rather than these common phrases:
- “You’re so articulate” to a colleague of color.
- “You’re transgender? Wow, you don’t look like it at all.”
- “Oh, you’re gay? You should meet my friend Ann. She’s gay, too!”
- “Where are you actually from?” to a colleague who’s not either black or white.
- “The way you’ve overcome your disability is so inspiring.”
- “Do you even know what Snapchat [or TikTok] is?” to an older colleague.
- “Are you an intern? You look so young!” to a younger, often female colleague.
- “Is that your real hair?” to a person of color.
- “Why do you wear that?” particularly to colleagues who wear head coverings.
There are many more common phrases we take for granted that we haven’t listed in this article and we hope professionals everywhere stopped using a long time ago (“That’s so gay” and “That’s retarded” lead the list). Feel free to leave a comment about a phrase you’ve heard in the workplace that you found offensive or insensitive, but your co-workers didn’t bat an eyelash at.
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