When telling stories, implication is everything. Many words we use every day are burdened with deep, culturally-specific meanings we may not always realize we are invoking. As writers and speakers, we can choose to be mindful of our words every once in a while.
Describing someone as a “kid,” for example, can carry lots of awkward connotations. Sometimes it’s appropriate to invite these associations, both positive and negative– because that’s what it means to be young in this world. But not always. Here in the United States, many of our embedded cultural narratives paint kids (and teenagers) as: Powerless. Irresponsible. Unintelligent. Naive. Insignificant. Incapable. Silly. Undeserving of some human rights. Maybe we don’t always need to burden our characters with that “kid” stamp right away. Maybe we just let them be people for a little while, and see what happens.
Oh– and maybe we try it with the “kids” in our real lives, too.