Concise Guide to APA Style: 7th Edition (OFFICIAL)

Page 99 Review

Unpacking Bias: A Critical Look at Language and Identity

Challenging Assumptions About Underprivileged Groups

The excerpt emphasizes the importance of avoiding generalizations about minority groups and the term “underprivileged.” It cautions against assuming that membership in a minority group automatically equates to being underprivileged.

The text states: “Do not assume that members of minority groups are underprivileged; underprivileged means having less money, education, resources, and so forth than the other people in a society and may refer to individuals or subgroups in any racial or ethnic group.” This highlights that disadvantage can affect individuals or subgroups within any racial or ethnic group, not exclusively minority groups. It continues, “Terms such as ‘economically marginalized’ and ‘economically exploited’ may also be used rather than ‘underprivileged.’”

It advocates for more specific and nuanced language, suggesting alternatives like “economically marginalized” or “economically exploited.” The excerpt further suggests that, “Whenever possible, use more specific terms (e.g., schools with majority Black populations that are underfunded) or refer to discrimination or systematic oppression as a whole.”

Why Specificity Matters

Using specific language helps to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes and accurately represents the complexities of social and economic disparities. Referring to concrete examples, like “schools with majority Black populations that are underfunded,” provides a clearer understanding of the issues at hand than vague generalizations. It acknowledges the systemic nature of the problem rather than attributing disadvantage solely to individual circumstances.

Understanding Sexual Orientation: Beyond Preference

The second part of the excerpt addresses the nuances of sexual orientation, emphasizing the importance of using accurate and respectful language. It defines sexual orientation as:

“a person’s sexual and emotional attraction to another person and the behavior and/or social affiliation that may result from this attraction” (APA, 2015a, p. 862). It explicitly states: “Use the term ‘sexual orientation’ rather than ‘sexual preference,’ ‘sexual identity,’ or ‘sexual orientation identity.’”

It clearly distinguishes between sexual orientation and choice, clarifying that while individuals choose their partners, the orientation itself is not a conscious decision.

Conceptualizing Sexual Orientation

The excerpt presents a two-pronged approach to conceptualizing sexual orientation: attraction level and direction.

First: “Sexual orientation can be conceptualized first by the degree to which a person feels sexual and emotional attraction; some parallel terms are ‘sexual,’ ‘demisexual’ (or ‘gray-asexual’ or ‘gray-A’), and ‘asexual’ (see The Asexual Visibility & Education Network, n.d.).” The distinctions between “sexual,” “demisexual,” and “asexual” help clarify the spectrum of experiences related to sexual attraction.

The text furthers that: “Second, sexual orientation can be conceptualized as having a direction. For people who identify as sexual or demisexual, their attraction then may be directed toward people who are similarly gendered, differently gendered, and so on. That is, sexual orientation indicates the gendered directionality of attraction, even if that directionality is very inclusive (e.g., nonbinary).”

This section emphasizes that sexual orientation’s directionality can be inclusive of various gender identities, going beyond traditional binary understandings.

Terms for Sexual Orientation

The excerpt then provides a list of examples of sexual orientations: “Some examples of sexual orientation are lesbian, gay, heterosexual, straight, asexual, bisexual, queer, polysexual, and pansexual (also called multisexual and omnisexual).” The inclusion of multiple terms emphasizes the diversity and complexity of sexual orientations.

Conclusion

This excerpt from the ebook emphasizes the importance of thoughtful and respectful language when discussing potentially sensitive topics. By advocating for specificity when describing underprivileged groups and providing a nuanced understanding of sexual orientation, the text promotes a more inclusive and accurate discourse. Using the proper terminology in an appropriate manner can help society reduce bias overall.

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