Language
From: Sharon Villines (sharonsharonvillines.com)
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:27:49 -0800 (PST)
Not to be critical but to remind people that how we label things matters. One 
of our residents recently pointed out that what we have been calling "bike 
storage" is really "bike parking."

Our demand for "bike storage" hasn't gotten sufficient traction to actually 
resolve in 12 years. As "bike parking" I can feel a turn around, at least for 
myself. If we referred to car parking as "car storage" we would have much less 
interest in attending to it.

Similarly, a "family" implies many things to many people but most importantly 
it defines others as "non-families." What we are usually referring to when we 
say "family" is households with small children, or non-adult children. We have 
an adult whose mother lives with him but they are not included when people are 
talking about families. Neither are couples. 

Households is a much more inclusive term and usually more accurate.

"Parents" is also used to mean people with children in residence. Many more of 
us are parents than have small children in residence. Parents are still 
parents, even if our children are not in residence.

"Working" people is usually used to mean those working M-F, 9-5, or more 
accurately, required to be "not home from 7:30am-6:30pm".  Everyone is working, 
but some of us have more flexible schedules. It's the flexibility that people 
are often referring to. 

Although, of course, there are those who assume if you don't have a 9-5 job you 
lie around all day and have infinite time to attend to their needs.

Interestingly, a quick skim of our ~65 adults shows that only 36 of our 65 
adults have inflexible M-F 9-5 schedules. The others work at home or work part 
time. (Thats nigh on to 50%, which I should will remember the next time we need 
someone who can be around on a weekday to supervise a worker or get a bid.)

just a reminder,

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org





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