Smith College Becomes The Latest To Replace Language To Conform To PC

Smith College of Massachusetts becomes the latest institution of higher learning to change long-used language, specifically the word "field" to avoid potentially offending people.

Post

Northampton, MA: Another significant college is among the latest of institutions of higher learning to adopt new language aimed at becoming more inclusive and less potentially offensive.

Smith College, a major liberal arts college in Massachusetts that focuses on social work majors, has replaced several terms that have included the word "field".

College representatives have argued that the word "field" has negative connotations related to slavery.

In the United States, slaves were typically forced to work in the fields, planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops such as cotton, tobacco, and sugar cane. They would often work from sunrise to sunset, sometimes longer during busy seasons.

In a statement provided by a college administrator to the school community, they wrote, “We recognize that language is powerful and that phrases such as ‘going into the field’ or ‘field work’ may hold negative associations.”

The school says the decision to replace the term did not come from any complaints or public pressure, but merely to be proactive.

The school developed a "language key" that includes a variety of phrases to avoid the word "field."

"Social work field" will be referred to as "social work profession" and "field instructor" to "clinical supervisor", and "field team" to "practicum learning team", among other examples.

However, not all students understand the need for such a change.

Aina Endo, a class of 2025 student of Smith College said, “I never really saw it that way before. Hearing about it now, I think the word has many different contexts and it’s the way that you use it that matters.”

Other Institutions

Smith College is not the first to change language. Several months ago, Stanford University in California announced plans to change a wide base of phrases to different ones that are considered more inclusive and potentially less offensive - a program Stanford called the Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative (EHLI). These phrases were unrelated to the curriculum and more as a general guide to replace previously common phrases like "balls to the wall" and "bury the hatchet." The list included over 200 commonly used phrases.

A stock image of the Stanford University campus.

But surprisingly (or maybe not a surprise), Stanford pulled their EHLI after it received backlash from critics everywhere, citing "mockery and ridicule" from internal and external critics.

Align Us Institutions Category

There is currently no information or signs that Smith College will revert to the regular use of the word "field". However, if you don't want to wait to see what happens or get a leg up on what institutions are implementing any politically divisive policies, go to our education category and look them up. You will find a host of educational programs to help get you started off on the right foot. Or better yet, prevent you from getting off on the wrong foot.

That's why we are here, to align your dollars with your values.

-Align Us

Have you read these other blogs?

An Indiana bar published a message to its customers warning that they will kick them out if they complain about Bud Light, but then backtracked.

Bed Bath & Beyond filed for bankruptcy but that's not the story. The story is about their performance since dropping My Pillow products. Was it a coincidence?

Profile
1000
Download App

Scan below on your mobile phone to download the app

Scan below on your mobile phone to download the app

Download the app
The Align Us app provides insight to help consumers spend their money with companies and organizations that align with their values and our app makes this easy.
Downloading our app makes it easier for shoppers to “follow the money” and see where their hard-earned money goes once it lands in the hands of a business or organization.
When you download our app you get the opportunity to make a difference and help hold companies accountable when it comes to how they spend your money.