Good Morning Britain debated Oxfam’s new inclusivity guide which saw guest Jenny Kleeman call for the charity to “cancel themselves” after they instructed staff to avoid using language which “reinforces colonial attitudes”. Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway read out a number of phrases and words which have been altered, while Iain Dale agreed with Jenny the move was “outrageous”.
Ben began: “Oxfam have introduced a new guide for their staff about how to go about addressing certain things.
“In this guide they apologise for printing the guide in English because they recognise the guide has its origin in English, the language of a colonising nation’.
“‘We acknowledge the Anglo-supremacy of the sector as part of its colonially.'”
“Is this a joke? Do we think this is a spoof?” Iain asked.
READ MORE: Jennifer Aniston swears during ‘awkward’ This Morning interview
“Are people really going to be offended by this language?” Jenny asked.
“Has there been research into whether people are going to be offended. Quite often this language, what these changes are doing is making language less precise.
“Like not using mothers and fathers but using parents instead.
“It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday, is there going to be a parents day now? Am I going to have to share that with the father of my children?
“By broadening things to be more inclusivity, what you’re actually doing is defining things a little bit less and perhaps we’re of the wrong generation and we don’t really get it and history will look back on us and laugh.”
Iain interrupted: “Can I just pull you up on your use of language there, it’s not Mother’s Day, it’s people with cervix day.
“This is I think, actually outrageous, because there will be watching this programme who donate to Oxfam, maybe just £20 a year but this has cost money to produce.
“Somebody is employed to write this rubbish and complete it and print it, and that money, someone is probably paid £50-60,000 for this job, that money could actually be used for the purpose Oxfam was set up.”
Ben went on to list a number of phrases the charity hopes to “outlaw” including “field trip” as it “reinforces colonial attitudes”.
Jenny hit back: “Well doesn’t Oxfam itself reinforce colonial attitudes which is people from wealthy countries giving money to try and help the people in other countries. They should cancel themselves!”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV from 6am
