Dehumanizing Language and Its Effects

Introduction

Language is never neutral. The words we use to describe people experiencing homelessness can either recognize their full humanity or reduce them to a single circumstance, stereotype, or perceived social problem. Terms like "the homeless," "vagrant," "bum," "transient," or "street person" may seem like mere descriptors, but they carry powerful implications that shape how we perceive, interact with, and create policies affecting people without housing.

This article examines common dehumanizing language used to describe people experiencing homelessness, the psychological and social mechanisms behind such language, its real-world impacts, and how we can shift toward more accurate, respectful terminology that recognizes the full humanity of people regardless of their housing status.

Common Dehumanizing Terms and Their Origins

Many commonly used terms have problematic histories and implications:

"The Homeless" as a Collective Noun

Perhaps the most common dehumanizing language pattern:

• Transforms a diverse group of individuals into a monolithic entity
• Erases individual identities, experiences, and needs
• Creates an artificial division between "the homeless" and "normal people"
• Implies homelessness is a defining characteristic rather than a temporary circumstance
• Similar to other problematic collective terms like "the disabled" or "the mentally ill"

Historical Pejorative Terms

Many terms have long histories of stigmatization:

• Vagrant/Vagrancy: Originated in medieval England as legal terms criminalizing mobility and poverty; used to control labor and enforce social hierarchies
• Bum/Tramp: Emerged in the late 19th century to describe migrant workers and those displaced by economic changes; implied laziness and moral failing
• Derelict: Originally a maritime term for abandoned property; application to humans explicitly frames them as discarded objects
• Transient: Emphasizes impermanence and lack of connection to community; historically used to justify exclusion from civic participation

Contemporary Euphemisms

Modern terminology that still carries dehumanizing implications:

• Street people: Defines individuals by their location rather than their humanity
• The unhoused: While better than some terms, still creates a collective identity based on housing status when used with "the"
• Homeless population: Clinical language that distances and objectifies
• Tent/encampment dwellers: Reduces people to their temporary living arrangement

The Psychology of Dehumanizing Language

Understanding the psychological mechanisms behind dehumanizing language helps explain its power:

Othering and Social Distance

How language creates artificial separation:

• Dehumanizing terms establish a clear boundary between "us" and "them"
• This boundary creates psychological distance that reduces empathy
• Distance makes it easier to ignore suffering or justify harsh treatment
• Terms like "the homeless" emphasize difference rather than shared humanity
• Research shows increased social distance correlates with decreased support for compassionate policies

Essentialism and Stigma

How language creates fixed identities:

• Dehumanizing terms suggest homelessness is an essential, unchangeable characteristic
• This "essentializing" contradicts the reality that homelessness is typically temporary
• Labels become stigmatizing when they imply moral failing or fundamental difference
• Stigmatized identities are associated with shame, discrimination, and reduced self-efficacy
• Terms like "vagrant" or "bum" carry implicit moral judgments about character

Cognitive Shortcuts and Stereotyping

How language shapes perception:

• Dehumanizing terms activate stereotypes and prejudices
• These stereotypes serve as cognitive shortcuts that prevent individualized understanding
• Once activated, stereotypes influence how information is processed and remembered
• People tend to notice information that confirms existing stereotypes
• Terms like "street person" evoke specific visual stereotypes that may not match reality

"When you call someone 'a homeless,' you've reduced their entire existence to their housing status. You've taken away their history, their relationships, their talents, their struggles, their humanity. You've made it easier to walk past them without seeing a fellow human being."

Real-World Impacts of Dehumanizing Language

Dehumanizing language has concrete effects on policy, treatment, and lived experience:

Policy and Legal Consequences

How language shapes governance approaches:

• Laws and policies using dehumanizing language often focus on control rather than assistance
• Terms like "vagrant" appear in criminalization ordinances that punish visible poverty
• Framing homelessness as a public nuisance leads to enforcement-based responses
• Language that emphasizes individual failings correlates with policies requiring "rehabilitation" before housing
• Dehumanizing language in official documents normalizes discriminatory treatment

Public Behavior and Treatment

How language influences everyday interactions:

• Research shows exposure to dehumanizing terms increases acceptance of hostile behaviors
• People described as "the homeless" receive less assistance from bystanders in experimental studies
• Dehumanizing language correlates with increased support for forcible removal from public spaces
• Terms emphasizing difference reduce public willingness to engage or make eye contact
• Language that frames homelessness as a choice increases victim-blaming responses

Healthcare and Service Provision

How language affects care and support:

• Medical literature shows providers using dehumanizing language provide lower quality care
• Terms like "frequent flyer" in emergency departments correlate with reduced pain management
• Service environments using dehumanizing language have higher barrier requirements
• Clinical notes using stigmatizing terms influence subsequent provider perceptions
• People experiencing homelessness report avoiding services where dehumanizing language is common

Psychological Impact on People Experiencing Homelessness

How language affects those directly experiencing homelessness:

• Internalized stigma from dehumanizing labels correlates with decreased help-seeking
• Exposure to dehumanizing language is associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety
• Identity-based discrimination contributes to trauma and psychological distress
• Dehumanizing language can lead to "stereotype threat" that impairs performance in important domains
• Constant exposure to stigmatizing terms erodes self-concept and hope

Mechanisms of Dehumanization

Dehumanizing language operates through several specific linguistic mechanisms:

Nominalization: Turning Adjectives into Nouns

A powerful linguistic transformation:

• Converting "homeless" (adjective) to "a homeless" or "the homeless" (noun)
• This grammatical shift makes a temporary condition seem like a permanent identity
• Similar to problematic terms like "a diabetic" instead of "person with diabetes"
• Creates artificial categories of people based on a single characteristic
• Reinforces the idea that homelessness defines someone completely

Metaphorical Language

Comparisons that reduce humanity:

• Terms comparing people to inanimate objects ("human debris," "trash")
• Animal metaphors ("pack," "infestation," "herd")
• Natural disaster language ("flood," "tide," "tsunami of homelessness")
• Disease metaphors ("plague," "epidemic," "scourge")
• These comparisons activate disgust responses and justify "cleaning" or "removal"

Spatial and Geographic Distancing

Language that creates territorial separation:

• Terms emphasizing people as "out of place" ("vagrant," "transient")
• Language suggesting invasion of space ("overrun," "taken over")
• Terminology implying lack of belonging ("drifter," "outsider")
• These terms justify exclusion from public spaces and communities

Historical and Moral Judgment

Language encoding value judgments:

• Terms with explicit moral connotations ("bum," "derelict")
• Words implying choice or laziness ("freeloader," "beggar")
• Language suggesting dangerousness ("vagrant," "predator")
• These terms frame homelessness as a moral failing rather than an economic circumstance

Respectful Alternatives

More accurate, humanizing language options include:

Person-First Language

Putting the person before the circumstance:

• Instead of: "The homeless"
  Use: "People experiencing homelessness"
• Instead of: "Homeless person"
  Use: "Person experiencing homelessness"
• Instead of: "Homeless veteran"
  Use: "Veteran experiencing homelessness"
• Instead of: "Homeless population"
  Use: "People without housing" or "People experiencing housing instability"

Specific, Descriptive Language

More precise terminology for specific situations:

• Instead of: "Street people"
  Use: "People living outdoors" or "People sleeping outside"
• Instead of: "Tent city"
  Use: "Encampment" or "Outdoor community"
• Instead of: "Vagrant"
  Use: "Person without permanent housing"
• Instead of: "Transient"
  Use: "Person experiencing housing instability"

Context-Appropriate Terminology

Language that reflects specific circumstances:

• For temporary situations: "Person facing housing crisis" or "Person experiencing housing instability"
• For long-term situations: "Person experiencing chronic homelessness"
• For specific living situations: "Person living in a vehicle" or "Person staying in a shelter"
• For broader housing issues: "Person affected by the housing affordability crisis"

Community-Preferred Language

Terminology developed by affected communities:

• Some communities prefer "unhoused" or "houseless" to emphasize structural issues
• Some advocacy groups use "without fixed address" or "without permanent address"
• Youth-led organizations often prefer "youth experiencing housing instability"
• Always prioritize terminology preferred by the specific community being discussed

Implementing More Humanizing Language

Practical approaches to changing language patterns:

Organizational Practices

How institutions can promote respectful language:

• Develop style guides and communication policies specifying preferred terminology
• Review all materials, forms, and public communications for dehumanizing language
• Provide training for staff on the importance of language choices
• Include people with lived experience in developing language guidelines
• Create accountability mechanisms for language use in official communications

Media and Journalism

How news organizations can improve coverage:

• Update style guides to include guidance on homelessness terminology
• Train reporters on the impact of language choices
• Develop relationships with organizations led by people with lived experience
• Review headlines and photo captions, where dehumanizing language often appears
• Consider the cumulative impact of language across multiple stories

Government and Policy

How official language can set standards:

• Audit and revise laws, ordinances, and regulations containing dehumanizing language
• Ensure new policies use person-first, respectful terminology
• Train public officials on appropriate language for public communications
• Include language guidelines in contracts with service providers
• Model respectful language in all public-facing materials

Personal Practice

How individuals can make a difference:

• Practice self-awareness about language habits and implicit biases
• Gently correct dehumanizing language when you hear it
• Explain the reasoning behind language choices rather than simply policing terms
• Recognize that changing language habits takes time and practice
• Connect language choices to broader values of dignity and respect

"The words we use matter not just because they're politically correct, but because they shape how we think, how we act, and ultimately, how we treat people. When we use language that recognizes the full humanity of people experiencing homelessness, we're taking a small but important step toward creating a society where everyone is treated with dignity."

Addressing Common Concerns

Responses to frequent questions about humanizing language:

"Isn't This Just Political Correctness?"

Addressing dismissive reactions:

• Research demonstrates concrete harms from dehumanizing language
• The issue is accuracy and effectiveness, not political ideology
• Language changes reflect evolving understanding of homelessness causes and solutions
• Similar language evolution has occurred in medicine, education, and other fields based on evidence
• The goal is more precise, respectful communication that leads to better outcomes

"Person-First Language Is Too Wordy"

Addressing concerns about brevity:

• The additional words serve an important purpose in accuracy and respect
• After establishing context, shorter forms can sometimes be used
• The slight additional length is outweighed by the benefits
• Many professional fields have adopted person-first language despite initial concerns about length
• Clear communication sometimes requires more precise wording

"Changing Words Doesn't Solve Homelessness"

Addressing scope concerns:

• Language change is one component of a comprehensive approach
• More respectful language supports more effective policies and programs
• Dehumanizing language has been shown to impede effective solutions
• Language and material conditions interact—both matter
• Addressing language costs nothing but can significantly impact outcomes

"People Don't Care What They're Called"

Addressing assumptions about preferences:

• Research with people experiencing homelessness shows strong preferences for respectful language
• Many advocacy organizations led by people with lived experience have issued language guidelines
• Individual preferences may vary, but general patterns show clear preference for humanizing language
• The impact of language occurs regardless of whether it's consciously noticed
• Dignity and respect should be baseline expectations, not optional considerations

Beyond Terminology: Deeper Language Considerations

Humanizing language involves more than just word choice:

Narrative Framing

How stories are structured matters:

• Even with person-first terms, narratives can still dehumanize through structure and emphasis
• Stories that present homelessness primarily as a problem for businesses or housed residents
• Narratives that focus exclusively on individual pathology rather than structural factors
• Framing that positions housed people as saviors and people experiencing homelessness as passive recipients
• Humanizing language requires attention to overall narrative, not just terminology

Visual Representation

Images communicate powerful messages:

• Photographs that show people's faces and engage with their humanity
• Images that portray people in active rather than passive positions
• Visual context that doesn't emphasize disorder or reinforce stereotypes
• Representation that shows the diversity of people experiencing homelessness
• Humanizing language should be paired with humanizing visual representation

Voice and Perspective

Who speaks and who is spoken about:

• Prioritizing first-person accounts from people with lived experience
• Avoiding speaking about people experiencing homelessness without including their perspectives
• Recognizing expertise that comes from lived experience
• Balancing professional voices with those directly affected
• Humanizing language includes whose voice is centered in discourse

Context and Causality

How situations are explained:

• Language that acknowledges structural factors alongside individual circumstances
• Avoiding implicit causal explanations that blame individuals
• Providing adequate context about housing markets, economic conditions, and policy choices
• Recognizing the role of systems and structures in creating and perpetuating homelessness
• Humanizing language includes how causality and responsibility are framed

Conclusion

The language we use to describe people experiencing homelessness is not merely a matter of semantics or politeness. Dehumanizing terms like "the homeless," "vagrant," or "bum" have real consequences—they shape public perception, influence policy decisions, affect how services are delivered, and impact the psychological well-being of people experiencing housing instability.

By understanding the mechanisms and impacts of dehumanizing language, we can make more conscious choices about our words. Person-first language that recognizes homelessness as a circumstance rather than an identity is an important step toward more respectful, accurate communication. But truly humanizing language goes beyond terminology to include narrative framing, visual representation, whose voices are centered, and how causality is explained.

Changing how we speak about homelessness won't solve the crisis on its own, but it creates an essential foundation for more effective, compassionate responses. When we use language that recognizes the full humanity of people experiencing homelessness, we help create the conditions for policies and practices that do the same. In this way, more humanizing language becomes not just a matter of respect, but a practical step toward better solutions.

References & Further Reading

1. Fiske, Susan T., et al. "A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype Content: Competence and Warmth Respectively Follow from Perceived Status and Competition." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 82, no. 6, 2002, pp. 878-902. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.6.878
2. Harris, Lasana T., and Susan T. Fiske. "Dehumanizing the Lowest of the Low: Neuroimaging Responses to Extreme Out-Groups." Psychological Science, vol. 17, no. 10, 2006, pp. 847-853. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01793.x
3. Schneider, Barbara, Kerry Chamberlain, and Darrin Hodgetts. "Representations of Homelessness in Four Canadian Newspapers: Regulation, Control, and Social Order." Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, vol. 37, no. 4, 2010, pp. 147-172. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol37/iss4/8/
4. Toro, Paul A., et al. "Attitudes of the Public Toward Homeless People in the United States and Europe." Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, vol. 16, no. 2, 2007, pp. 67-97. https://doi.org/10.1179/sdh.2007.16.2.67
5. National Health Care for the Homeless Council. "Language Matters: Using Person-First Language." NHCHC, 2020. https://nhchc.org/clinical-practice/homeless-deaths/language-matters/
6. Hodgetts, Darrin, et al. "Media and Community Narratives of Homelessness." Housing, Theory and Society, vol. 31, no. 4, 2014, pp. 373-386. https://doi.org/10.1080/14036096.2014.924158
7. Thistle, Jesse. From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way. Simon & Schuster, 2019. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/From-the-Ashes/Jesse-Thistle/9781982101213
8. FrameWorks Institute. "Reframing Homelessness: Strategic Framing for Effective Communication." FrameWorks Institute, 2020. https://www.frameworksinstitute.org/