• Flying Squid
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      fedilink
      02 months ago

      Kantar reviewed nearly 50 million social posts in the U.S. over 2 years. Over two-thirds of posts about people with intellectual disabilities were negative and nearly 29 million contained slurs (i.e., using the word “retard(ed)” or other words combined with “-tard”).

      Spreading the R-word continues to hurt people with intellectual disabilities—and whether intended or not, is a form of bullying. Using the R-word is the same as using any slur against a minority group. Eliminating this word is a step toward respect for all.

      https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/impact/why-the-r-word-is-the-r-slur

      It is one of the only words that disparages an entire class of human beings that many people seem to feel is also not bigoted enough to avoid using.