The staff of the Inclusive Excellence Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has compiled a list of potentially offensive words that it recommends avoiding.

“Through ‘Just Words?’ we seek to raise awareness of micro aggressions and dismissive terms, their impact, provide an insight into their meaning. We are not seeking to tell people what they can/cannot say,” organizers stated on the university’s website.

The website states that “Just Words?” has two meanings:

1)   As in only. Are they really only words, that is to say they carry no weight or added meaning?

2)   As in justice. Are they said from a place of respect or belief in fairness, will it aid in creating a just culture?

Take a look at the posters they designed that list several words and why they might be interpreted as offensive.

What do you think?