Hedging: The language tool that can change your life | Alice Ashcroft | TEDxScarisbrick
In this talk, researcher and writer, Dr Alice Ashcroft, explores how the subtle language pattern of "hedging" (those small words like "I think," "maybe," and "sort of") shapes our professional and personal lives in ways we rarely notice. Drawing from her research in gendered language and technology, she reveals how hedging isn't linguistic filler but a tool that reflects power dynamics, gender expectations, and the double bind many women face: speak directly and face social penalties, or hedge and undermine your own authority. Through examples from software design meetings to childhood memories, she demonstrates how understanding hedging can transform it from an unconscious habit into a strategic choice.Rather than advocating for the elimination of hedging language, Dr Alice Ashcroft, reframes it as a skill to be refined and deployed intentionally. She introduces practical tools like "The Button Example" and "The Power of Why" to help audiences recognise when hedging serves them and when it doesn't. The talk challenges conventional wisdom about confident communication, arguing that mastering intentional hedging isn't about speaking more like men or removing uncertainty from our language, it's about making conscious choices about how we use language to navigate systems that weren't designed with everyone's voices in mind. The result is a fresh perspective on communication that empowers people to maintain their authentic voices while claiming the space and authority they deserve.
Dr Alice Ashcroft is a researcher and consultant who analyses the impact of identity and gendered language in software design and technology use. Alice has been published in peer-reviewed academic publications, and her PhD, titled “Design, Innovation and Software: The Impact of Gender and Language”, focused on how gender affects communication and teamwork in software design and innovation workshops. Their work highlights the need for more inclusive practices that give everyone a voice, helping to improve creativity and collaboration in the design process.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx Receive SMS online on sms24.me
TubeReader video aggregator is a website that collects and organizes online videos from the YouTube source. Video aggregation is done for different purposes, and TubeReader take different approaches to achieve their purpose.
Our try to collect videos of high quality or interest for visitors to view; the collection may be made by editors or may be based on community votes.
Another method is to base the collection on those videos most viewed, either at the aggregator site or at various popular video hosting sites.
TubeReader site exists to allow users to collect their own sets of videos, for personal use as well as for browsing and viewing by others; TubeReader can develop online communities around video sharing.
Our site allow users to create a personalized video playlist, for personal use as well as for browsing and viewing by others.
@YouTubeReaderBot allows you to subscribe to Youtube channels.
By using @YouTubeReaderBot Bot you agree with YouTube Terms of Service.
Use the @YouTubeReaderBot telegram bot to be the first to be notified when new videos are released on your favorite channels.
Look for new videos or channels and share them with your friends.
You can start using our bot from this video, subscribe now to Hedging: The language tool that can change your life | Alice Ashcroft | TEDxScarisbrick
What is YouTube?
YouTube is a free video sharing website that makes it easy to watch online videos. You can even create and upload your own videos to share with others. Originally created in 2005, YouTube is now one of the most popular sites on the Web, with visitors watching around 6 billion hours of video every month.