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[Reflect] Make connections: The power of naming.

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As children, we may say, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Most children, however, recognize the power of naming, especially when that naming is intended to make them feel different or inferior.

To judge Estrada’s argument, reflect on your own observation of and personal experience with name-calling. Your instructor may ask you to post your thoughts on a class discussion board or to discuss them with other students in class. Use these questions to get you started:

Make a list of words sometimes used to refer to groups with which you identify—for example, words associated with your ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or geographic region.
Which of these words are potentially hurtful or demeaning? How does the identity of the person who uses the word or the situation in which the word is used affect its power?
How does name-calling compare to what Estrada calls “the practice of using a people as mascots,” a practice he calls “dehumanizing” (par. 4)?

[Reflect] Make connections: The power of naming.

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