Name: Which box do I check?
Uploaded: 2021-11-16T15:35:22Z
Duration: 3 min 18 s
Description: How we identify makes a difference in our lived experiences, but it's not always reflected in the checkboxes we see on forms. In this episode, Mona Chalabi explores why language matters in data collection, and why the categories we use should reflect who we really are. Want to hear more from Mona? Check out her podcast Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, from the TED Audio Collective.

Mona Chalabi: Which box do I check?

Which box do I check?

How we identify makes a difference in our lived experiences, but it's not always reflected in the checkboxes we see on forms. In this episode, Mona Chalabi explores why language matters in data collection, and why the categories we use should reflect who we really are. Want to hear more from Mona? Check out her podcast Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, from the TED Audio Collective.

The categories used on official forms can profoundly affect how communities are seen and served. When the US Census tested a new MENA (Middle Eastern or Northern African) option, the number of respondents identifying as white fell from 86 percent to 20 percent, revealing how language alone shifts data and identity. Many groups still go unrecognized, which means their unique challenges and needs are often invisible in policy decisions. Recognizing real diversity through language lays the groundwork for more just resource allocation and social protections.