ICYMI – Denley: Shifting gender pronouns, racial terminology aren’t doing much to unite Canadians

The assumption is that the latest terminology is much more appropriate and reflects the wishes of those being described. It’s also assumed that people generally understand what the new terms mean. Some refreshing new polling conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) challenges both of those assumptions.The best way to describe people who aren’t white is apparently quite a dilemma for some, but not so much for people who aren’t white. For years, Canadians have referred to “visible minorities.” It’s a simple concept and people know what it means. Now, we are supposed to call anyone who isn’t white a “racialized person,” as if their non-whiteness was the most important thing about them

The poll suggests that so-called racialized people aren’t so keen on the new term. Forty-four per cent of Black Canadians polled prefer the term “visible minority,” with only 11.3 per cent choosing to be called “racialized.” That term is even less popular among Asian Canadians, only 3.5 per cent of whom prefer it. By contrast, 51.8 per cent like “visible minority.”