The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) issued guidance to families on Wednesday, advising parents to use the term “kids” instead of “son” or “daughter” in an effort to promote inclusivity. The department suggested that these traditional terms might not be inclusive enough.
The advice was shared in a social media post focused on “inclusive language for families.” The post also recommended using “family members” instead of “household members” to include individuals such as incarcerated persons, step-siblings, and others who may not reside in the same household.
“The language we use matters!” the health agency emphasized. “When talking about family, it’s important to use terms that cover the many versions of what family can look like.”
The department’s specific recommendations included:
- Using “child” or “kid” instead of “daughter” or “son” as these terms are gender-neutral and can apply to children who might not be legal sons or daughters.
- Saying “family members” rather than “household members” to account for family members who do not live together, such as divorced or incarcerated parents, and step-siblings.
- Referring to “family” instead of “extended family” since grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins often play significant roles in a core family unit.
The post also provided a link for subscribing to the department’s Health Equity newsletter.
The VDH website prominently features several social justice initiatives, including diversity, equity, andinclusion (DEI) efforts. The site states that the department is committed to centering health justice and addressing racism and all forms of oppression in its programs, policies, and workforce development.
The recommendations were met with backlash on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where users criticized the guidance, calling it “insanity,” “loony tune woke world,” and “absolute madness.”
