I have blonde hair; I am not ‘a blonde’.
I work with individuals who have disabilities, and have been trained to use “person-first” language. It’s really quite simple. This means that when describing someone, you say, “she has Autism” not “she’s Autistic”, or “he uses a wheelchair” not “he’s in a wheelchair” or (worse yet) “he’s confined to a wheelchair”.
I found that I have been using appropriate language for individuals who have disabilities, but failing to use it for anyone else including myself, fellow female colleagues, and male friends. Worse, when I have been described by others as ‘a blonde’ I hadn’t assumed that was wrong, and didn’t speak up for myself. Men are not described as ‘a blonde’ or ‘a brunette’ ever. Why is it acceptable for women to be described this way?
This language problem is also applicable to survivors of gender abuse; they are often diminished by our society’s (and the media’s) description such as “she’s a battered woman”. How about “she survived abuse”?!??
I hope for a day when we can all use appropriate and accurate descriptors, and remember that these things are attributional; they do not define us as individuals. When we decline to use person-first language, we ignore the person, and they are then only seen as that quality, not even human.
I am first and foremost a human, and will no longer be a prisoner to these language chains.
Please consider your choice of words, and speak up when you hear someone who may need some language education.