Judgmental Language
by Katherine Love

People use judgmental language every day. They use words like niggers, wetbacks, and honkies in everyday life. They also use words like ho, bitch, and slut to define women. It is wrong, but people still do it. People all around the world use judgmental language. They have different ways of saying it, but the judgment is still there. As John Locke said, “He that judges without informing himself to the utmost that he is capable, cannot acquit himself of judging aim” (228). People often use prejudicial or judgmental language because of their social standings; however, such language results in racism, stereotyping, and hurtful words.

Judgmental language is often racist. Racism is a problem that cannot be solved in one day. It will take many years to solve this problem, but if everyone works together to stop racism, it will slowly come to a stop. Racism can be passed down by generations. It can also be developed by people that are not trained to think right. In order to solve this problem, people need to look at each other like equals, instead of by their race. Racist slurs are used all the time. Some racist words have become a way of talking for some people. They use words like nigger, spics, wetbacks, curs, cracker, beaner, honky, redneck, hillbillies, and white trash. These words are not bad according to racist people. Some people believe that they are above others because of their race and social standing. They think they are better than everyone else, but they are worse because of the way they treat others. People need to realize the truth that everyone is different and somehow equal. No one person is better than another. As soon as people understand this, they can truly be nonjudgmental. Racism is a form of stereotyping because some people believe that all people of the same race act the same way.

Judgmental language is a form of stereotyping. It is a form of stereotyping because people judge each other based on race, gender, age, or religious belief. Stereotypes are used in everyday life. People have certain expectations of each other based on stereotypes. For example, they expect men to work, and women to stay at home and raise the children. They also expect men to go to war. Some people assume that all black people are criminals, and all Indians are drunks and bums. Stereotypes are hurtful to people. They can hinder how people are portrayed in everyday life. People will say things like, “All women are sluts,” or “All black people are niggers!” Statements like these are forms of stereotyping. Stereotyping can be prevented in many different ways. One way to stop stereotyping is to stop putting people into categories. People should be perceived as individuals and not as part of a group. People should be judged by who they are, not what they are. No matter what a person is, it does not determine how that person will act. People need to understand that concept. They also need to know that some stereotypes are hurtful to some people.

Judgmental language can become hurtful words. People use hurtful and judgmental words every day. Some do not know their words are hurtful, while others use judgmental words to hurt others. Some judgmental and hurtful words are whore, nigro, and gout. Some people do not know how hurtful their words can be. They need to understand that everybody has different feelings and emotions. Some people use hurtful words as a way to look down on other people. Everybody has been hurt by something somebody has said. Hurtful words can be prevented by putting oneself in another’s shoes. People need to think about what they are about to say before they say it. They should think about what Thumper said in the Disney movie Bambi, “If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all.”

People need to use less judgmental language, and be more sympathetic towards one another. When people use judgmental language, they tend to forget that it can be hurtful. They need to learn to use more nonjudgmental language and to be open minded. People that are judgmental need to understand that they too will be judged. It may not be until they die, but they will be judged one way or another. They need to put themselves in the other person’s shoes and think about what they might say. Will it hurt or offend the other person? Is it judgmental? These are some questions people need to ask themselves before talking.

Works Cited

Bambi. Screenplay by Maxwell Morgan. Dir. David D. Hand. Prod. Walt Disney. Perf. Hardie Albright, Stan Alexander, Peter Behn, Tim Davis, Donnie Dunagan, Sam Edwards, Ann Gills, Sterling Holloway, Cammie King, Margaret Lee, Fred Shields, Paula Winslowe, and Will Wright. Videocassette. Walt Disney Production, 1942.

Locke, John. “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 1992. 228.

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