Changing language may not be enough to change public perceptions of individuals who sexually offend

Negative community attitudes toward individuals who have sexually offended may hinder their reintegration, potentially leading to reoffending. The ‘sex offender’ label is believed to reinforce these negative perceptions. This study examines public perceptions of these individuals using person-first language compared to stigmatizing labels. Participants read one of eight public announcement vignettes and answered questions regarding their perceptions of individuals who sexually offend. Contrary to expectations, we found that participants continued to endorse negative perceptions toward these individuals irrespective of the label used, the victim’s age, or the interaction of the label and the victim’s age, suggesting that the labels were not perceived differently. In light of these null findings, adopting person-first language may not be enough to change societal attitudes toward individuals who sexually offend. Changing language should be considered when the goal is to treat individuals more humanely and to better align with trauma-informed and compassionate approaches when working with those who have been convicted of sexual offences.