Reducing Bias in Language

Inclusive language is key to dismantling biases and creating a more welcoming game experience. This article provides some concrete steps and pitfalls to keep in mind when using language in games.

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Avoid biased language defaults

Challenge defaults — Be mindful of the tendency to use male pronouns, titles, and occupations as the generic standard. Instead, use gender-neutral language (e.g., “they / them,” “firefighter,” “chairperson”).
Challenge binaries — Avoid binary language. Challenge the idea that choices are limited to two options (e.g., male / female, good / evil). Consider spectrums and non-binary identities.
Inclusivity as standard — Replace exclusionary phrases (like “manpower” or “manned”) with more inclusive alternatives (like “workforce” or “staffed”).

Default to neutral language

Ability-neutral language — Avoid focusing on limitations associated with disabilities. Describe characters by their actions and skills. (e.g., “She navigated the obstacle course with agility” instead of “Despite being blind, she…” ).
Age-neutral language — Opt for neutral terms like “experienced” or “young” instead of potentially biased terms like “wily” or “old.”
Appearance-neutral language — Describe characters by their actions and personality traits, rather than focusing solely on physical appearance. This avoids reinforcing stereotypes about beauty or attractiveness. (e.g., “He commanded respect with his confident presence” instead of “With his chiseled jawline…”)

Practice critical self-evaluation

Reflect on your own biases — Before writing, pause for self-reflection. Examine your own perspectives, biases, and experiences that might shape your storytelling and influence your understanding of the world. By acknowledging our biases, we can actively work to mitigate them and create more inclusive and authentic stories.
Consider multiple perspectives — Embrace diverse interpretations and perspectives in your world-building. Encourage the exploration of different viewpoints and narratives, ensuring they are thoughtfully integrated and authentically represent the diverse tapestry of your world.
Be open — Feeling intimidated when writing about unfamiliar identities is natural. Embrace this discomfort as a catalyst for growth and learning. By acknowledging your limitations and seeking guidance, you can approach diverse perspectives with humility, respect, and a genuine desire to understand.

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Create diverse representations

Write multi-dimensional characters — Develop characters with unique personalities, motivations, and flaws, regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. Avoid characters defined solely by their identity.
Challenge power structures — Consider how in-game societies reflect real-world power imbalances. Introduce characters or narratives that subvert expectations and showcase diverse paths to power and agency.
Normalize inclusivity — Populate backgrounds with diverse crowds and NPCs. Integrate characters who challenge stereotypes into your world in a natural way.

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Focus on language and framing

Avoid loaded terminology — Choose language that doesn’t carry negative connotations tied to specific identities (e.g., “savage” or “exotic”).
Reframe narratives — Offer alternate perspectives to avoid unintentionally reinforcing a single viewpoint. A conflict could have multiple valid interpretations based on a character’s background.
Question assumptions — When crafting characters, storylines, and game mechanics, ask yourself if they perpetuate harmful stereotypes or reinforce narrow definitions of “normal.”

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Take a collaborative approach

Diverse writing team — A variety of backgrounds and life experiences helps identify potential blind spots and enriches the storytelling process.
Sensitivity readers — Get feedback from those with lived experiences different from your own. They can offer valuable insights into how characters, dialogue, or plot points could be perceived.

A note on intersectionality and tokenism

In creating a diverse cast, be mindful of how you distribute these identities. Avoid the pitfall of concentrating multiple marginalized identities within a single character. While intersectionality is crucial and deserves thoughtful exploration, it should not lead to tokenism.

For instance, rather than having one character who is non-white, queer, and neurodivergent in a sea of white, heteronormative, neurotypical characters, strive for balanced and nuanced representation using the techniques above. This approach fosters a more authentic and respectful depiction of diversity and promotes genuine inclusivity.

Finally, remember that inclusive language and thoughtful representation are ongoing processes. Commit to continuous learning and improvement to create truly welcoming games for everyone.