Some words, phrases, and practices that are currently only considered offensive by a minority of people could very well become more widely recognized as problematic in the future. Some examples below blur the line between being an offensive practice versus an offensive term, but are covered here on the site and rated as terms:

• “Mansplaining” – This term refers to the phenomenon of men explaining things to women in a condescending or patronizing way, often about topics that the woman is already knowledgeable about. While some people still view this behavior as harmless or insignificant, as awareness of gender disparities and sexism grows, it is increasingly something that more people will view this as a form of disrespect, and so consider offensive.
• “Rape culture” – This term is used to refer a culture that normalizes and excuses sexual violence. While some may view this concept as exaggerated or alarmist, as awareness of sexual assault and harassment grows, it is increasingly common to frown on the ways in which language and behavior contribute to a culture that tolerates sexual violence.
• “Whitewashing“- This refers to the practice of casting white actors to play non-white characters or erasing the contributions of non-white people from history or media. It is criticized by some as perpetuating racial erasure and marginalization. As awareness of representation and diversity grows, the term “whitewashing” and the practices it describes will be viewed as insensitive and offensive.
• “Ableism” – Discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities is often referred to as “ableism”. While some people still view disabilities as weaknesses or deficits, as awareness of disability rights and accessibility grows, it is possible that more people will recognize ableism as a form of discrimination and consider ableist language or behavior as offensive.
• “Homophobia” – Similar to the above, this term is used to identify those who discriminate are exhibit prejudice against individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. While some people still view same-sex attraction as immoral or unnatural, as awareness of sexual and gender diversity grows, it is possible that the term “homophobia” and other LGBTQIA+-related terms will be more widely recognized as offensive and harmful.
• “Fatphobia” – Less common, this term describes discrimination or prejudice against people who are overweight or obese. While some people still view body size as a matter of personal choice or discipline, as awareness of body positivity and health at every size grows, it is possible this term and other related terms will be more widely recognized as offensive and harmful.
• “Cultural appropriation” – Not so much a term here but a concept, this has only recently become more widely recognized as a problematic practice. Some people still argue that cultural “borrowing” is harmless, but as awareness of power dynamics and historical context grows, it is possible that more people will come to view cultural appropriation as disrespectful and offensive.
• “Trigger warning” – Also more a practice than a term, but relevant, is the use of trigger warnings to alert people to potentially triggering content has become increasingly common in recent years. While some people argue that trigger warnings are necessary to promote mental health and safety, others view them as coddling or unnecessary. It is possible that as more people become aware of the impact of trauma and mental health issues, trigger warnings will become more widely accepted as a standard practice.
• “Political correctness” – This term has been used by some to criticize efforts to promote inclusivity and avoid offensive language. However, the term itself has become somewhat loaded and controversial, with some arguing that it is a way to dismiss legitimate concerns about language and behavior. It is possible that in the future, the idea of being against “political correctness” will be seen as a way to defend harmful attitudes or behaviors.
• “Colorblindness” – The idea of being “colorblind,” as in treating everyone the same regardless of race, is criticized by some as ignoring the reality of racial inequalities and discrimination. With awareness of structural racism and the importance of acknowledging and valuing diversity grows, it is increasingly likely that colorblindness will be viewed as insensitive and offensive.
• “Microaggression” – The concept of microaggressions is to convey subtle forms of discrimination or bias. While many still view these behaviors as innocuous or trivial, as awareness of systemic discrimination and the impact of implicit bias grows, people will likely come to view microaggressions as harmful and offensive.
• “Misgendering“- The practice of using the wrong gender pronouns or referring to someone by the wrong gender is becoming increasingly a recognized issue recently. Some still argue that misgendering is accidental or insignificant, but as awareness of gender identity and trans rights grow, it is likely that more people will view misgendering as disrespectful and offensive.
• “Colonialism” – The practice of colonizing or exploiting territories and peoples for economic or political gain has been criticized by some as perpetuating global inequalities and cultural erasure. As awareness of colonialism and its impacts grows, it is possible that the term “colonialism” and related concepts will be viewed as more offensive and insensitive.
• “Islamophobia“- This term refers to discrimination or prejudice against individuals who practice Islam or are perceived to be Muslim. While some people still view Islam as a religion of violence or intolerance, as awareness of the diversity of Muslim communities and the importance of combating discrimination and hate speech grows, it is possible that this and related concepts will be viewed as more offensive and harmful.
• “Gender binary” – The idea that there are only two distinct genders, male and female, has been criticized by some as limiting and excluding individuals who do not fit into traditional gender roles or identities. As awareness of gender diversity and the importance of respecting different gender identities grows, it is increasingly likely that the concept of gender binary will be viewed as more offensive and exclusionary.