Woke Language Is Changing the Meaning of Words Commentary By Have you noticed how our language is changing? At a congressional hearing on “Birthing While Black,” nearly every politician used the words “birthing people” instead of “women” or “mothers.” Asked why, Shalanda Young, President Joe Biden’s budget director, said, “Our language needs to be more inclusive.” Activists have also changed “equality” to “equity” and “affirmative action” to “diversity.” The Associated Press no longer uses “mistress.” It tells reporters to use “companion, friend, or lover.” Worse, certain speech is now labeled “violence.” Calling a transgender woman a man is “an act of violence,” says transgender actress Laverne Cox.