Social media users are becoming concerned that the R-Slur is being normalised on TikTok, and many are taking to the app to raise awareness of its offense.
A movement is currently taking place on TikTok that sees users fighting to stop people from using the R-Slur on social media. It’s a term that gets thrown around a lot, and people often do not realise its hurtful origins.
So what is the R-Slur? And why is the term disrespectful?
What is the R-Slur on TikTok?
As you’ve been scrolling through TikTok, you may have come across people referring to the R-Slur or the R-Word.
The R-Slur is slang for the word ‘retard’ or ‘retarded’, and a number of videos have recently emerged that see TikTok users warning against the use of the word, fearing that it has been normalised on social media.
So why is the R-Slur a hurtful term? Let’s explore it’s origins…
The origins of the R-Slur explored
TikTok users are currently urging others to stop using the R-Slur on social media, as despite being a word that is often thrown around casually, it is actually very offensive.
The word ‘retard’ was first introduced as a medical term in 1961 to refer to people with mental disabilities.
However, after the term began being used negatively, Barack Obama signed Rosa’s Law in 2010 which changed the term ‘mental retardation’ to ‘intellectual disability’ in U.S. federal law.
Now, the term is commonly used to describe somebody who is ‘stupid’, ‘dumb’ or ‘unintelligent’, and many people often do not realise that the term is a slur and is extremely offensive.
TikTok users raise awareness of the R-Slur
A movement is currently taking place on TikTok that sees users educating others and urging them not to use the R-Slur on social media.
Using the R-Slur is a derogatory and ableist phrase that prejudices people with disabilities and TikTok users are becoming increasingly concerned that the term has been normalised and its hurtful meaning has been lost.