Don’t have to suffer toxic shift in attitude
LAST week, the Oxford Dictionary chose “toxic” as the Word of the Year for 2018. In an online statement, the publisher explained their choice “is a word or expression that is judged to reflect the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the passing year, and have lasting potential as a term of cultural significance.”
What a sad indictment on where we are as a society that the word “toxic” rises to the top of the lexical heap to define us. Is contemporary culture really so noxious? According to the research and the way we use and identify the word, the answer is “yes”.
But the word “toxic” cannot claim the crown (or poisoned chalice) on its own. You see, it’s the way it’s paired with other words, as Oxford editor, Katherine Martin explained, and used as “a descriptor”, and the specific experience/issue that’s then embodied, that gives the word its meaning.
Originating from the Greek toxikon pharmakon (the lethal poison the Greeks put on their bows), the modern word “toxic” comes from the Latin word toxicus, which means “poison” or “imbued with poison”.
But as the Oxford Dictionary points out, it’s really from the Greek for “bow”, toxon, that we gain our word. So rather than the pharmaceutical itself, the word’s etymology lies with the vehicle that helps deliver the poison.
Which is exactly how the word “toxic” came to the fore this year. Its power lies not so much in the toxin, itself, but in the multi-faceted and often invidious ways in which it’s distributed.
How, and with what then, has the word been paired?
The 10 most popular ways the word toxic has been contextualised and disseminated, became an expression both literal and metaphorical, has been with chemicals, masculinity, substances, environment, relationships, culture, air, waste, algae and gas.
From the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian agent (toxic gas/substances), to concerns about toxic waste, especially after post-natural disasters, the environmental impact of algae outbreaks, poor air quality in countries such as China, and the #MeToo and Times Up movements, where toxic masculinity has been placed under the social microscope.
There’s also been an increase in identifying and reporting toxic relationships between partners, families, and colleagues in workplaces (eg violence, bullying) and the appalling behaviour of politicians at home and overseas.
With these in mind, it’s easy to see how and why the word has been looked up and used so often. According to the Oxford Dictionary, there’s been a rise of 45 per cent this year alone.
There’s no doubt, we’ve heard and seen the corrupting influence and abuse of power; borne witness to the toxic nature of those wielding it.
The fallout of short and long-term sexual harassment and abuse is being felt across the globe. We’re still assessing and trying to repair the damage done by patriarchy.
We’ve borne witness to the questionable actions of politicians who are not only accused of a range of morally bankrupt behaviours, but more often seek to excuse them. Then there’s the venomous and acrimonious postings of certain leaders and trolls about their peers, women, refugees, LGBTQI people, never mind the myopic ramblings of climate deniers who refuse to believe the evidence raining (or not) down on them.
What does all this say about us?
It would be easy to be grim and feel that something’s shockingly amiss when “toxic” is the word considered to best reflect 2018 society and our mood; to have “cultural significance”.
The good news, however, is that as toxic and destructive as all this appears, it also means we’re discussing and debating these very real issues, bringing them to the fore of conversations and action. We’re calling offenders, despots, bullies and fools to account. In other words, we’re taking steps towards change.
The very fact the word is being looked up so often demonstrates that people are seeking to understand it and stem its poisonous tide.
But in a further indictment on modern culture, some of the other words that made the shortlist are no cheerier. They include “gaslighting” (psychological manipulation that makes people doubt their own reality), “incel” (usually hostile young men in an online community who are unable to attract women sexually); “gammon” (a derogatory term in the UK that refers to an older middleclass white man whose face grows red when he’s expressing usually right-wing political views) and “orbiting” (suddenly ceasing communication with someone but still monitoring what they’re doing and occasionally responding on social media – keeping them “in your orbit”).
It will be good to put this “toxic” year behind us. Let’s hope, if nothing else, it’s taught us how to inoculate ourselves against toxic forces, and to work together to find lasting cures.