Thread by @bree_bop

I was recently a guest on More Life: The Reentry Podcast and asked to discuss person-centered language: tinyurl.com/bddw5z43. To me, being person-centered transcends language. It's about centering humanity when we discuss the U.S. carceral system and its impacts
A thread 🧵

In 2019, I was tasked by @PrisonersFC to explore person-centered language for the Advocacy in Action Coalition. For the white paper, linked here, we interviewed formerly incarcerated people, activists, and people who have had loved ones incarcerated. tinyurl.com/3xjfyjrw

In the white paper, we explore “crime-focused labels” and present humanizing alternatives. We also note that it is important to empower through choice. One activist I spoke with identified as a prison survivor because of the profound impacts incarceration had on her life.

Other formerly incarcerated women at the 2019 #FreeHer conference asked to use the term “system-involved” or “system-impacted.” Members and leaders in @ConCrimASC recently published an excellent piece on language including the division name. tinyurl.com/yc5p3y3v

Language has the power to unify groups and reclaim power over terms that can stigmatize or other. That's why in our white paper, we emphasized empowering through choice.

It is also possible to avoid labels altogether. When I asked my father, incarcerated for 15+ years what he thought about labels, he responded, “Why do I have to be anything? Why can’t I be a father or husband?” This is a practice I’ve been trying to do in my writing.

In our @DWCFeminist article, @ShonMReed and I asked women under community supervision about their responses to being labeled. Women discussed the harms of dehumanization and how certain terms, like “offender” & “inmate” contributed to stigma. tinyurl.com/2p87rzke

In sum, I personally use person-centered language, but its only one small part of my scholarship/activism. I aim the build empathy and humanize those impacted by the legal system, whether those victimized or prosecuted. I am open to discussion here, which is why I love Twitter!