March 17th 2023.
The CEO of Oxfam has defended a guide on inclusive language sent to staff in which it advises not to use words like ‘mother and father’ or ‘people.’
Charity CEO Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah was questioned about the booklet on Friday’s Good Morning Britain, after it gained attention for warning against using words with colonial implications and expressions that could appear not to be inclusive.
In the guide, personnel are informed that words that date people, such as ‘youth’ and ‘the elderly’ are best avoided, and acknowledged that the booklet was originally written in English, ‘the language of a colonising nation.’
The move has caused debate, yet some have pointed out that the use of ‘parent or guardian’ has long been used in place of mother or father, such as in schools, as some children may not have a mother or father.
CEO Dhananjayan appeared on GMB on Friday where he was questioned by hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard, with the former saying she found it ‘laudable’ that the charity was being ‘sensitive.’
However she added: ‘It feels like sort of, wokeness gone mad. That’s what people are saying, that’s what they’re worried about.’
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) The Oxfam CEO defended the booklet by noting that parent or guardian had long been used in lieu of ‘mother and father’ and they were simply modernizing the guide
Kate said that people had donated to the charity to help those in need through Oxfam’s ‘excellent’ work, and asked Dhananjayan if he could tell viewers how much the guide had cost to create.
The CEO said he could not say how much it cost, but asserted it was ‘a very small cost’ as it is ‘an update to an existing guide.’
He said that Oxfam has learned in its 80 years of charity work that ‘the how matters as much as the what.’
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) Kate applauded the charity for its sensitivity but said it was being viewed as ‘wokeness gone mad’
‘We work in diverse communities all across the world, and we’ve learned that if we’re going to end poverty we have to take everyone on board – and using inclusive language is a significant way of displaying respect and consideration for the people we work with.’
The CEO of Oxfam defended a guidebook provided to staff which advises against using words such as 'mother and father' or 'people'
Pointing out that 'parent or guardian' has often been used in place of 'mother and father', such as in schools, the CEO was questioned about the booklet on Good Morning Britain.
Kate Garraway lauded the sensitivity of the charity but expressed concern that it was being viewed as 'wokeness gone mad.'
When asked how much the guide had cost to create, the CEO said that it was a very small cost as it was simply an update to an existing guide. He said that Oxfam had learned in its 80 years of charity work that 'the how matters as much as the what', and that showing respect and dignity to those they work with through the use of inclusive language was an important part of ending poverty.
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