This term centralizes the harm a person has been through rather than who they are or where they are headed. By using this term as a noun it also serves to objectify human beings and minimize their value to their lived experiences. In system reform spaces, this can often mean a person’s trauma becomes the primary way in which they are identified and valued. We prefer referring to people in ways that centralize their humanity and not their trauma.

This term centralizes a person’s age as the focus and is vague as to what age you can finally not be minimized as a young person. Differentiating between young or older contributors places age and experience in the power-over position, while lessening the status of those considered “young” and with less experience. We prefer simply referring to people without centralizing their age.

Situates age as the differentiating factor between parties, and implies a hierarchy where power most often resides more fully with the “adults” in what is not truly a partnership between equals and is instead a relationship with significant power imbalances. We call one another “leaders” so we are not positioning ourselves as being invited by those in power.

Centers power and authority with whomever is doing the engaging and age as the most important aspect of those being engaged. We prefer the use of terms that centralizes humanity and uses language demonstrating equal and shared power.