Inclusive language Inclusive language guide

We are proud to have a diverse student cohort – over 80% of whom are mature learners.

Tips when considering inclusive language 

• Avoid using the terms girls or boys when referring to colleagues or employees, as these refer to children.
• Avoid using language that stereotypes based on age.

• Avoid ageist terms such as elderly, OAPs, pensioners or youngsters. 

London Met is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and we welcome students with disabilities, long-term medical or mental health conditions or Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs) such as dyslexia with the help of our Disability and Dyslexia Service (DDS).

The London Met Staff DisAbility Network* is an inclusive network open to all staff members at the University who identify as having a disability. 

Under the provisions of the Equality Act (2010), the term “disability” covers a wide scope including individuals with learning differences, mental health conditions, physical conditions, long-term medical conditions, hearing impairments, auditory impairments and neurodivergence, eg ADHD and Autism Spectrum Conditions. Under the Equality Act (2010), a disability is a condition which lasts (or is expected to last) for 12 months or longer with a substantial impact on day-to-day life.

The network aims to provide disabled staff with a safe and confidential space to share experiences, best practice, information and support related to disability. 

The aims of the network for 2022 are to enable disabled staff to have a voice in order to shape the development of the University so that it is inclusive for everyone, and to raise a greater awareness of staff with disabilities at the University and the positive skills that they can bring.

Support for staff with disabilities [staff login required] 
Support for students with disabilities

Tips when considering inclusive language

• Avoid blanket terms. Try to use names or more specific conditions.

• Avoid using terms that imply normalcy / being healthy when referring to people without disabilities.

• Use open language, avoiding binaries or descriptors that imply a “norm”

• Avoid negative terms that overextend the severity of a disability.

• Avoid outdated and derogatory terms in any context.

• Avoid terms that equate the person with the ability or disability.

• Avoid using euphemisms.

• Avoid being effusive about the achievements of people with a disability when they are going about their daily life and work.

While the above is not an exhaustive list of language do’s and don’t's, it does give you an idea on how to talk with people with a disability. Do remember that each person will have different ways that they wish to be referred to, or talk about the disability community in different terms, so please respect individual choice. If in doubt, ask!

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Inclusive language

At London Met we strive for our language usage to be both deliberate and inclusive. It is important to avoid references to a person’s gender and their sexual orientation except where it is pertinent to the discussion. This often involves seeking gender neutrality when using terms, expressions and pronouns. 

The Women’s Network

The Women’s Network* enables all self-defining women staff to come together, share experiences, opportunities and knowledge, offer mutual support, and discuss issues that are important to them. It also seeks to inform the development of University policy and procedures relating to the working lives of women staff.

Athena SWAN

London Met has been awarded an Athena Swan Bronze Award, in recognition of our ongoing commitment to the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all.

Tips for inclusive language

• Use gender-neutral pronouns and expressions.

• Avoid language that emphasises a gender binary. 

• Use person-centred language. 

• Use language that validates the transgender experience.

• Introduce yourself and your pronouns to encourage others to do the same – use gender-neutral pronouns unless you know a person’s preferred pronoun(s).

• Respect people’s pronoun preferences including those people who want to be referred to by gender-neutral pronouns.

• Use terms that include all relationships.

• Avoid titles that imply the usual job-holder being of a particular gender.

• Be mindful of appropriate and respectful in-group versus out-group naming, ie avoid using terms that are only used by individuals that self-identify as part of a specific community.

• Avoid gender descriptions when irrelevant.

• Recognise and respect the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity.

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Our LGBTQIA+ community

Here at London Met, we're dedicated to ensuring equal opportunities for all, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer or another sexual minority.

Our LGBTQIA+ student society

The LGBTQIA+ Society at the University represents our LGBTQIA+ students by working with the Students’ Union to improve the university experience of LGBTQIA+ students through welfare and awareness campaigns on campus as well as by organising a range of great events.

Our LGBTQIA+ staff network

We have an active staff network at London Met, which organises socials, runs a programme of events for LGBTQIA+ History Month and works to create a supportive and safe environment for staff and students across the University.

•  Avoid terms that suggest a degree of voluntary choice.

• Use person-centred language. 

• Recognise diverse family formation.

• Recognise and respect the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Avoid outdated terms.

Queer is sometimes used as an umbrella term to refer to all people with non-heterosexual sexual orientations. Although it is a reclaimed term within the LGBTQIA+ community, it is still considered offensive to many and should not be used. 

At London Met, we do not have a seasonal relationship with the race equity agenda. Addressing racial and social justice sits at the heart of our mission. There is no other sector better placed than higher education to address complex social problems, and for too long, equalities rhetoric has not been matched with real action within the walls of the academy. 

Race Equity Strategy 

London Met’s Race Equity Strategy 2020/21‍ – 2024/25, developed in consultation with staff and students, reflects our commitment to ensure that we deliver real change across the University. The full scale of our activities is not captured in the plan because our approach is truly holistic; every individual in every department of the University is part of the solution to create the systems and environment where everyone is respected and valued.

Black history – all year round

At London Met Black history is not just a month; we have a commitment to the importance of Black history 365 days of the year. The London Met Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Voice Network*, in collaboration with all University departments, deliver Black history month 365 events all year round.

Although from time to time, we will have to use the term BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) when benchmarking data or externally reporting, we have made the decision to move forward from the term in favour of using the suffix "of Colour", eg people of Colour, staff of Colour. 

There will never be a neat acronym that can adequately capture the nuances and cultures of Britain’s minoritised ethnic groups, but we believe this term best conveys the plurality of the individual racialised community experience. 

Tips for using inclusive language

• Use adjectives rather than nouns when it is necessary to refer to someone’s race/ ethnicity.

• Avoid irrelevant ethnic descriptions.

• Avoid terms that homogenise lived experiences of different marginalised groups.

• Avoid terms that refer to a nonspecific group label often used in scientific literature to describe subgroups that are too small for meaningful analyses.

• Avoid language that contributes to the deficit model.

• Avoid outdated and racist terms.

• Avoid dehumanising language.

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London Met stands opposed to antisemitism and islamophobia. Eliminating racial and religious bias is central to the University's commitment to being an inclusive and welcoming space for all.

In June 2020, the University adopted the working definition of antisemitism as developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). London Met was the first UK university to adopt the working definition of Islamophobia as developed by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims. 

• Institutionalised The Rise of Islamophobia in Higher Education

Tips for using inclusive language

Only refer to the person's religion if it relates to the information you are communicating.

• Avoid using Christian-centric terms, not only on grounds of respect but also for practical reasons. The term "last name" should not be used as it could be confusing to certain cultures who place their family name first.

• Groups of the same religion/ belief should be referred to as a community.