Words Matter
Whistleblowers have a poor reputation because of insufficient definition. As a result, the term Whistleblower has become synonymous with negativity. However, the reality is that their purpose is to protect the rights of workers and employers.
The dilemma of Whistleblowers can be boiled down into three major points:
Abuse of authorities
Misinformation
Lack of support
The problem is retaliation: gaslighting, mobbing, marginalizing, devaluing, shunning, blackballing, double-binding, accusing, & violence against whistleblowers.
Why should we update the synonym of Whistleblower?
The synonyms of Whistleblower completely undercut the definition of the word.
*First Relaters: similar to first responders who protect the public.
Different Definitions of Whistleblower (US)
Someone who reports waste, fraud, abuse, corruption, or dangers to public health and safety to someone who is in the position to rectify the wrongdoing
A person who informs on a person or organization engaged in an illicit activity.
A person, usually an employee, exposes information or activity within a private, public, or government organization deemed illegal, illicit, unsafe, fraud, or abuse of taxpayer funds.
Without authorization, an individual reveals private or classified information about an organization, usually related to wrongdoing or misconduct. Whistleblowers generally state that such actions are motivated by a commitment to the public interest.
A whistleblower is anyone who has and reports insider knowledge of illegal activities occurring in an organization.
The heroes who expose crimes and corrupt activities will be punished harshly by the government for daring to reveal their dirty secrets.
An insider who reveals an act, generally illegal, taking place, which the person committing the act would not wish to be public.