Are you reinforcing your opposition's arguments?
Do you ever find yourself bringing up your opposition's frame before she or he does? By raising the precise frames we intend to counter, even to refute them, we are creating hurdles we now must jump...
View ArticleHow sexist language is undermining efforts to improve public health
Critics of public health measures often use the phrase "nanny state" to evoke fears about the U.S. government exerting too much control over people's lives. But what's really behind the words? And what...
View ArticleWhat's really behind the soda industry's 'choice' rhetoric
Following New York City's public hearing on Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to cap soda sizes at 16 ounces, critics pushed back, saying the proposal "restricts choice." The trouble is, those critics...
View ArticleShooting ourselves in the foot: How the way we talk about food issues puts...
Language matters. It affects not only how people view an issue but also how they act on it. When it comes to discussing food policy, a couple of language pitfalls may be thwarting advocates' efforts at...
View ArticleFrom me to us: Taking racism from the individual to the structural
Using language that moves racism from a personal issue to a structural one is key to showing how policy changes can benefit entire populations. But what does this mean for those who have experienced...
View Article3 phrases public health advocates should use with caution -- or not at all
The words we use to describe public health issues can open people up to new ideas or reinforce old ways of thinking, undermining advocates' efforts to make the case for policies that support health....
View Article