Systems Centered Language
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This document discusses the importance of properly contextualizing and discussing data that shows disparities. It recommends considering the community, culture and systems involved when examining disparity data. The concern should be about disparities stemming from discrimination and oppression, not inherent flaws. The focus should be on identifying the root causes, such as social and structural conditions, that allow disparities to persist. The language used to describe disparities is also important, as it can perpetuate harm or place blame on groups. Systems-centered language should be used to place accountability on the systems and structures that cause inequities.
![Know the context: Understand the community,
culture, and people the data represent, and the
systems in which they reside and interact.
Clarify the concern: The concern is disparities in
outcomes, not inherent individual flaws or deficits (e.g.,
racial identity is not a risk factor, but discrimination and
oppression on the basis of race is).
Identify root causes: Identify the conditions (e.g., social,
structural, environmental, economic, political, etc.) that
allow disparities to occur and persist.
Properly contextualizing disparities helps to challenge
harmful narratives.2 Three things to think about when
examining and discussing data disparities:
ROOT CAUSES
Certain terminology can result in perpetuating victimization. This puts the onus for change in the
wrong direction.3 Coined by Dr. Meag-gan O'Reilly, systems centered language helps place
accountability on the systems and structures that perpetuate inequity rather than on the
individuals and communities that are impacted.
LANGUAGE MATTERS
The language and labels we use can intentionally or unintentionally convey that one group is
inferior, or attribute blame to one's identity rather than to systems of inequity.1 This is particularly
important when discussing how disparities in outcomes are represented in data. How we talk
about disparities impacts how we act on the data.
OVERVIEW
Buchanan, N. T., Perez, M., Prinstein, M. J., & Thurston, I. B. (2020). Upending racism in psychological science: Strategies to change how our science is conducted, reported,
reviewed & disseminated. doi: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/6nk4x
Spievack, N. & Okeke, C. (2020). How we should talk about racial disparities. [Blog post]. Elevate the Debate. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute. Retrieved from
https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/how-we-should-talk-about-racial-disparities
O’Reilly, M. (2020). Systems centered language. [Blog post]. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@meagoreillyphd/systems-centered-language-a3dc7951570e
1.
2.
3.
Talking about demographic disparities in data
analysis and reporting.
Systems Centered Language
African Americans are an at-risk community.
The pandemic will hit our most vulnerable
populations the hardest.
There are disproportionately higher rates of
suicide among African American youth.
Communities that have faced historic
discrimination may exhibit worse academic
outcomes.
Rather than ,
African American communities are exposed to
additional harms.
The pandemic will hit our most prohibited
populations the hardest.
There are systematically higher rates of suicide
among African American youth.
Communities that face continued discrimination
may exhibit worse academic outcomes.
Say instead.
www.CorbinJStandley.com](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/systemscenteredlanguage-210507204156/85/Systems-Centered-Language-1-320.jpg)
Systems Centered Language
- 1. Know the context: Understand the community, culture, and people the data represent, and the systems in which they reside and interact. Clarify the concern: The concern is disparities in outcomes, not inherent individual flaws or deficits (e.g., racial identity is not a risk factor, but discrimination and oppression on the basis of race is). Identify root causes: Identify the conditions (e.g., social, structural, environmental, economic, political, etc.) that allow disparities to occur and persist. Properly contextualizing disparities helps to challenge harmful narratives.2 Three things to think about when examining and discussing data disparities: ROOT CAUSES Certain terminology can result in perpetuating victimization. This puts the onus for change in the wrong direction.3 Coined by Dr. Meag-gan O'Reilly, systems centered language helps place accountability on the systems and structures that perpetuate inequity rather than on the individuals and communities that are impacted. LANGUAGE MATTERS The language and labels we use can intentionally or unintentionally convey that one group is inferior, or attribute blame to one's identity rather than to systems of inequity.1 This is particularly important when discussing how disparities in outcomes are represented in data. How we talk about disparities impacts how we act on the data. OVERVIEW Buchanan, N. T., Perez, M., Prinstein, M. J., & Thurston, I. B. (2020). Upending racism in psychological science: Strategies to change how our science is conducted, reported, reviewed & disseminated. doi: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/6nk4x Spievack, N. & Okeke, C. (2020). How we should talk about racial disparities. [Blog post]. Elevate the Debate. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute. Retrieved from https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/how-we-should-talk-about-racial-disparities O’Reilly, M. (2020). Systems centered language. [Blog post]. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@meagoreillyphd/systems-centered-language-a3dc7951570e 1. 2. 3. Talking about demographic disparities in data analysis and reporting. Systems Centered Language African Americans are an at-risk community. The pandemic will hit our most vulnerable populations the hardest. There are disproportionately higher rates of suicide among African American youth. Communities that have faced historic discrimination may exhibit worse academic outcomes. Rather than , African American communities are exposed to additional harms. The pandemic will hit our most prohibited populations the hardest. There are systematically higher rates of suicide among African American youth. Communities that face continued discrimination may exhibit worse academic outcomes. Say instead. www.CorbinJStandley.com