The Power In Language With Dr. Suzanne Wertheim

In the next episode of Communicate Like You Give A Damn, host Kim Clark, is joined by Suzanne Wertheim, national expert on inclusive language, who discusses the power dynamics at play in language and communication. She highlights the softening language used by people in power to protect each other, especially in cases of egregious behavior. Suzanne explores the concept of power, distinguishing between institutional power and social power based on dominant group membership while emphasizing how individuals from multiple elite and dominant groups receive affinity bias. Together, they even delve into the challenges faced by non-dominant groups in workplaces, where experiences of insult and injury are often dismissed using softening language, contributing to gaslighting and invalidation. This episode is sure to introduce you to Suzanne’s framework for inclusive language, emphasizing the principles of reflecting reality, showing respect, drawing people in, incorporating other perspectives, and recognizing pain points in language and beyond.
About The Guest:
Dr. Suzanne Wertheim is a national expert on inclusive language and the author of The Inclusive Language Field Guide (2023). After getting her Ph.D. in Linguistics from Berkeley, she held faculty positions at Northwestern, University of Maryland, and UCLA. In 2011, she left the university system in order to apply her expertise to real-world problems. Dr. Wertheim has been an invited speaker around the US and in Europe, presenting research on language and bias, language and gender, and anthropology and artificial intelligence. As head of Worthwhile Research & Consulting, Dr. Wertheim now specializes in analyzing and addressing bias at work.
Find Dr. Wertheim Here:
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About Kim:
Kim Clark (she/her) focuses her work on the communicator and content creator's role in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She is the co-author of The Conscious Communicator: The fine art of not saying stupid sh*t, an Amazon #1 bestseller and the leading voice for DEI communications and social justice messaging for brands.
Her career spans documentary filmmaking, agency partnerships with the Discovery Channel, teaching at San Jose State University, and leading global internal communication teams at KLA, PayPal, GoDaddy, and GitHub. She is known for her ability to facilitate sensitive yet urgent conversations to make meaningful progress in creating inclusive workplaces. Kim began integrating DEI into communications beginning in 2004 and it wasn't until the summer of 2020 when her peers starting listening and seeing they have a role and responsibility in DEI and in social justice on behalf of their organizations. As a student of life, she has completed several certifications including DEI Certifications from Yale School of Management & UC Berkeley. Kim is also an NSA Speaker.
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