Seeing the person beyond the label

In my initial semester of pursuing a master's degree in social work, I submitted an assignment for my generalist practice class. As someone who had returned to education after more than a decade, I eagerly anticipated my professor's feedback. Dr. Keva Miller, however, gently drew my attention to something I had not considered before – the labels I habitually used to describe people.

Instead of employing terms like “homeless people” or “addicts,” she advocated for a more person-centered approach, encouraging the use of language that placed the individual before the circumstance or condition. Examples she provided included phrases like “an individual experiencing homelessness” or “a person struggling with substance use.”

Her message resonated deeply with me: it emphasized the importance of seeing the person first, before the label.

The professor elucidated that language does more than merely describe people; it significantly influences our approach towards them. Whether we perceive someone with compassion or suspicion, respect or disdain, hinges largely on the words we use. For individuals grappling with addiction, mental illness, or homelessness, and those subject to other forms of social exclusion, labels play a pivotal role in shaping how they are perceived and treated.

These perceptions and responses can have profound effects on an individual's sense of belonging and access to essential resources such as support and employment opportunities.