Resources for Inclusive Communication
At DMC we regularly run Inclusive Communication Trainings. What we get asked for most in these sessions are practical resources to put newly gained insights into action.
At its core, inclusive communication aims to ensure everyone can feel seen, respected, and represented in the full expression of their diverse human experience. This is not a given.
Whether in spoken word, written language, or visual communication, the meaning we transport often carries subtle undertones (or glaringly obvious core messages) of exclusion and discrimination.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
We’ve put together this list to help you communicate more inclusively with all humans.
They are resources that we have found to be helpful in evolving and adapting the way we communicate at DMC and supporting our clients and community in growing their communication.
So together we may build a more just, equitable, and kind world in which every human can feel a sense of belonging.
Disclaimer: We view ourselves not as experts, but as fellow practitioners. Always learning and evolving ourselves. Continuously growing our understanding of our own gaps in awareness — and un-learning internalized systems of oppression that shape the way we communicate with ourselves and each other.
A note on accessibility: since German is a heavily gendered language and many of our clients are based in Germany, some of these resources are specific to a German-speaking context. These are marked with a [DE].
Gender and Language
A beautifully designed, interactive site on the historical relationship of gender and language (Reuters).
Gender-Neutral Language
[DE] Asterisk oder Doppelpunk?
BFIT-Bund schließt sich der Expert*innen Meinung an und empfiehlt das Gendern mit dem Asterisk: Offizielle Enpfehlung der Überwachungsstelle des Bundes zur Barrierefreiheit in der Informationstechnik
- Juristische Expertise d. Stadt Hannover: Die geschlechtergerechte Amtssprache inklusive des Gendersterns garantiert “verfassungskonformes staatliches Sprachhandeln” im demokratischen Rechtsstaat. Download des vollständigen Rechtsgutachtens.
- Mythos: bessere Lesbarkeit des Doppelpunkts
Trans* and Nonbinary Inclusion
Pronouns and Neo-Pronouns
- [DE] Übersicht Pronomen & Neo-Pronomen
- [DE] Gender-neutrale Pronomen: Historie & Verwendung, von Illi Anna Heger
- The gender-neutral pronoun “hen” in Norwegian
- Everything you need to know about neo-pronouns (e.g. ze/zim)
- A guide to non-binary familial terms
- [DE] Niedrigschwellige Podcast Folge: “Warum neo pronomen manchmal kompliziert aber wichtig sind (ARD Audiothek)
Examples of the use of they/them pronouns in the media
- Star Trek Discovery, Season 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz2LllBCT6E
- Grey’s Anatomy, Season 15: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Z1l9Yv-p8
Barrierefreie Sprache
Leichte Sprache — Language Tool
[DE] Wissen & Tools — Neue Deutsche Medienmacher*innen (NDM)
Geballtes Wissen, praktische Anleitungen und nützliche Werkzeuge zum Thema Diversität im Journalismus, von den NDM — Zusammenschluss von Medienschaffenden mit unterschiedlichen Geschichten, Perspektiven und Wurzeln.
Visual Communication
- Diversity in Tech Photo Collection by the Noun Project
- Disabled And Here Collection
- Stock photos of women of color in tech
- Gender Spectrum Photo Collection (Vice.com)
- Collection of beautiful, free photos of Black and Brown people
- Getty Images Diversity photos
- Re-Defining Women Icon Collection by the Noun Project
- Black Illustrations
- [DE] Vielfältige Bildberichterstattung, von den NDM
In the Press:
DACH Region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
- [DE] https://www.hannover.de/Service/Presse-Medien/Landeshauptstadt-Hannover/Aktuelle-Meldungen-und-Veranstaltungen/Gutachten-best%C3%A4tigt-Genderstar-verwirklicht-Verfassungsauftrag [DE]
- https://www.npr.org/2021/10/30/1049603171/germany-gender-neutral-language-german
- [DE] https://anschlaege.at/an-sage-sprechen-wir-endlich-ueber-privilegien/
- [DE] Debatte ums Gendern (taz)
- [DE] Inklusive Sprache in den Medien (taz)
- [DE] Podcast Folge: Gendergerechte Sprache im Duden (Deutschlandfunk Kultur)
Global
Inclusive Design & Design Justice
- Oscar Health, Inc. ‘MyIdentity’ Functionality Supports Transgender and Non-Binary Members
- Introduction: #TravelingWhileTrans, Design Justice, and Escape from the Matrix of Domination
- Designing for Identity. To truly foster inclusion and… | by Emma C Siegel | A Practical Guide to Inclusive Research | Medium
- Algorithmic Justice League
- Glossary of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Terms, by Dr. Mega Consulting
Stories of discrimination, the fight for justice & visibility:
Books
- Delusions of Gender, by Cordelia Fine
- Cinderella Liberator, by Rebecca Solnit
- Beyond the Gender Binary, by Alok Vaid-Menon
- “Queer: A graphic history”, by Meg-John Barker & Jules Scheele
- “She/He/They/Me”, by Robyn Ryle
- “Nonbinary: Memoirs of Gender & Identity”, ed.: Micah Rajunov, Scott Duane
- “Yes, you are trans enough”, by Mia Violet
- “How we fight for our lives” by Saeed Jones [memoir of a young, black, gay man]
- A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities, by Mady G., J.R. Zuckerberg
- A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns, by Archie Bongiovanni (Goodreads Author), Tristan Jimerson
Racial Justice & Anti-Racism
- “My Grandmother’s Hands”, by Resmaa Menakem
- “This book is anti-racist”, by Tiffany Jewel
- “The Racial Healing Handbook”, by Anneliese A. Singh
DEI more broadly
- “Subtle Acts of Exclusion”, by Dr. Tiffany Jana
- “The Wake Up” by Michelle MiJung Kim
- “Gender Ambiguity in the Workplace: Transgender and Gender-Diverse Discrimination”, byDr. Alison Ash & Lily Zheng
Self- & Community Care as Activists
- “Trauma Stewardship”, by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, Connie Burk
- “The Queer & Transgender Resilience Workbook”, by Anneliese A. Singh
- “The Body is Not an Apology”, by Sonya Renee Taylor
- “Pleasure Activism”, by adrienne maree brown
Image caption: There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives” — Audre Lorde
