Gloria Steinem's 'Word Trade' Trick Shuts Down Loaded Questions
Communication expert Dorie Clark reveals how to reframe unfair questions without sounding defensive, using a technique popularized by Gloria Steinem.
You've been there. Someone lobs a loaded question your way — the kind that buries an unfair assumption right inside it — and suddenly you're on the defensive before you've even opened your mouth. Communication expert Dorie Clark says you don't have to play that game.
Clark calls her go-to counter-move the "word trade" strategy, and it's inspired by how Gloria Steinem handled hostile questioning. The core idea is simple: swap out the loaded language in the question for words that actually reflect reality, then answer on your own terms. You're not dodging. You're resetting the frame.
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What makes this move so effective is that it doesn't read as defensive — which is exactly the trap most people fall into when they try to push back on unfair framing. The moment you sound rattled, you've already lost ground. By calmly replacing the premise rather than fighting it, you signal confidence and control the narrative going forward.
This is a tradeable skill. Whether you're in a job interview, a media appearance, a tough client meeting, or even a family dinner, the ability to reject a bad frame without blowing up the conversation is a serious edge. Clark's point is that the strategy works precisely because it looks effortless — you're not arguing about the question, you're just answering a better one.
If you're tired of walking out of conversations wishing you'd said something different, this technique is worth drilling until it's second nature. Continue reading at US Top News and Analysis.
