Inflating Language & NCAA basketball player Angel Reese
LSU’s Angel Reese making the “You Can’t See Me” gesture Screenshot from The Sporting News X account
Who is a “queen” and who is a “thug”?
Who is “competitive” and who is “a classless piece of shit”?
Who is “legendary” and who is “ghetto”?
In my work, I talk a lot about linguistic distortions. One distortion that is especially dangerous is what I call “inflating language.”
Inflating language is one way we see double standards in action.
Inflating language says that words and actions that are acceptable when produced by one person are unacceptable when produced by another.
For example, when people smile at a young straight couple holding hands but say about a young gay couple holding hands, “They don't have to shove it in our faces.”
Or when two managers do the same things, but the male manager is praised for being “direct” and “forceful” while the female manager is criticized for being “strident” and “abrasive.”
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark making the “You Can’t See Me” gesture - Screenshot of John Cena’s X post
This past weekend, a Black LSU basketball player made the same “You can't see me” gesture that a white Iowa basketball player had made two games earlier. (The gesture was originated by rapper Tony Yayo and further popularized by wrestler John Cena.)
Caitlin Clark, the white player, was praised by John Cena on Twitter, but otherwise didn't get much of a reaction on social media when she made the gesture.
By contrast, Angel Reese, the Black player, has been hammered with criticism, and has been called a thug, classless, ghetto, and much more. Including by sports journalists, like Keith Olbermann, who tweeted that she was a “fucking idiot.”
Same gesture, if at a different point in the game and for a different duration.
For one person, acceptable and reasonable behavior.
For another, problematic, unacceptable, and a sign of inferior class, morality, upbringing, and more.
Are Black women allowed to behave confidently at work? Take up space? Do the same things their colleagues who aren't Black do?
Here is just one example that shows that they usually are not.
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Be on the lookout for inflating language. It's one of the clearest ways we can see double standards in action - and work to correct them.
Industry-leading inclusive language expert Suzanne Wertheim facilitates in-person and virtual inclusive language trainings, as well as offering empowering and educational inclusive language keynotes.
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