Inclusivity
In addition to my daily and strategic contributions as a copywriter, I specialize in inclusive language and act as an in-house inclusivity mentor for colleagues.
I’ve led a handful of impactful inclusivity initiatives across my company, like:
Co-founding and co-leading Webflow’s first 2LGBTQIA+ affinity group, Queerflow
Presenting and implementing a team-wide training on pronouns and active allyship (that’s still part of company-wide onboarding today)
Publishing, expanding upon, and managing inclusive language guidelines
Serving on an internal DEI council in my first quarter at the company
Becoming a DEI representative for all efforts at Webflow’s annual conference Webflow Conf, both online (including inclusive language, ticket scholarships, and accessibility) and in-person (implementing gender-neutral restrooms, conducting event space walkthroughs for accessibility, owning inclusive spaces like a lactation trailer and quiet space, signing and wayfinding, and more)
I believe we can get more done with one marketer, one engineer, one product person, or one sales rep who’s committed to inclusivity than we can with one entry-level DEI person. The more people who can commit to making inclusion work part of their job, the better we’ll be able to make our workplaces — and our worlds — safer, more accessible, and more inclusive for everyone.
How I make inclusivity part of my work
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I get sensitive
Inclusivity is an inside job first. Once you truly commit to thinking critically about the words, phrases, and ideas that are deeply ingrained in our society, it becomes second-nature to unlearn things with harmful origins and relearn safer ways to communicate.
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I get specific
Often, being more inclusive means getting more specific about what you’re trying to say. This is how I make sensitive thinking tangible — by being the magnifying glass of my organization and offering alternative words, phrases, or practices to things that may be unsafe or harmful.
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I get sustainable
As someone who’s committed to this work, it’s my responsibility to help others think like me. I do this by inviting others into my line of thinking around inclusivity every single day through trainings (like pronouns & active allyship), explaining why something is harmful with alternatives, and more.
Greater Than Code 266: Approaching Inclusive Language with Kate Marshall
“You're never going to be safe for everyone. A space you create is never going to be safe for everyone. The best you can do is make it safer for more people.”
“Part of queer joy means recognizing and honoring all of the ways in which our identities are so uniquely intersectional and layered.”
Featured resource
General best practices for communicating more inclusively, terminology tables including words to avoid, why, and their alternatives for sexist and gendered, racist, ableist, and cultural appropriative language, plus accessibility writing best practices.
