Here are some sensitive terms Diane Ravitch found in various guidelines. Included are reasons given for avoiding them, and alternatives:
Adam and Eve: Replace with Eve and Adam to demonstrate that males do not take priority over females.
America/Americans: Use with care because it suggests geographical chauvinism unless it applies to all people in North, South, and Central Americas.
Early man: Sexist; replace with early human.
Girlish laughter: Sexist; replace with laughter.
Hell: Banned; replace with heck or darn.
Jungle: Replace with rain forest, savannah.
Old wives’ tales: Sexist; replace with folk wisdom.
Paraplegic: Offensive; replace with people with paraplegia.
Polo: Elitist.
Snow cone: Regional bias; replace with flavored ice.
