PARSNIPS

PARSNIPS Topics

PARSNIPS Topics

◎Purpose

ELT materials are used worldwide across many cultures, contexts, and corporate environments. To ensure inclusivity and avoid cultural, political, or religious sensitivities, writers must avoid or carefully manage PARSNIP topics.

1What does PARSNIP stand for?

  • P – Politics
  • A – Alcohol
  • R – Religion
  • S – Sex
  • N – Narcotics (drugs)
  • I – Isms (e.g. racism, sexism, ageism, etc.)
  • P – Pork (or other culturally sensitive foods)

2Guidelines

1Avoidance by default

Do not use PARSNIP content in tasks, texts, audio, visuals, or examples unless it is directly pedagogically necessary and has been explicitly approved.

Example: Instead of a wine company, use a soft drinks company.

2Neutral alternatives

Replace sensitive references with neutral equivalents.

❌ He invited her for a beer at a bar in the red light district.

✅ They met for coffee at a café.

3Professional contexts

Always keep workplace and business materials professional and neutral.

Focus on universal, safe themes such as companies, teamwork, products, services, travel, and meetings.

4Cultural sensitivity

Remember global use: what is harmless in one culture may be offensive in another.

Avoid assumptions about lifestyles, holidays, or traditions.

5-isms

Do not include discriminatory content such as racism, sexism, or ageism.

If the topic of diversity or inclusion arises at higher levels, treat it neutrally and constructively.

3Acceptable edge cases

Some topics can be used with caution if the focus stays neutral and the context is clearly professional or pedagogically necessary.

  • Business trips / entertaining clients: Meals, coffee, tea, and restaurants are fine; alcohol should never be the focus, only framed within cultural context.
  • Workplace stress: May mention medicine or relaxation techniques, but not narcotics.
  • Company cultures: Can discuss different working styles without invoking politics or religion.

For example, wine served with food in France may be acceptable when the business context makes the reference natural and non-promotional.

4Dos and don’ts

✓Do

  • Choose universal business themes such as meetings, teamwork, technology, products.
  • Use neutral contexts such as cafés, offices, airports.
  • Frame diversity in inclusive, positive terms.

✗Don’t

  • Include references to drinking, drugs, religious practices, or political conflicts.
  • Use stereotypes or humour based on nationality, gender, religion, or ethnicity.
  • Assume cultural norms, for example “everyone celebrates Christmas”.

✓Key takeaway

PARSNIP content should be avoided in global ELT business materials unless carefully justified and approved. Stick to neutral, professional, inclusive contexts that work across cultures.