The Language of Inclusion: Glossary of Key Terms
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In referring to people with disabilities, it is preferable to use language that focuses on their abilities rather than their disabilities. Therefore, the use of the terms "handicapped," "able-bodied," "physically challenged," and "differently abled" is discouraged. ... Use "non-disabled" instead.
(noun) (1) A person who actively works to end intolerance, educate others, and support social equity for a marginalized group.
(verb) (2) To actively support/plead in favor of a particular cause, the action of working to end intolerance, educate others, etc.
Any action taken by an employer, in compliance with federal law, to promote the employment and advancement of people who have been the traditional targets of discrimination.
Discriminatory behavior related to age.
A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment. It includes people who classify themselves as described below.
A person who is not affected by autism.
In social justice work the term Ally is often defined as a noun; a person who uses their privilege to advocate on behalf of someone else who doesn't’t hold that same privilege. Allyship is one of the first action-oriented tools one learns in social justice and bias trainings. Awareness of injustices; racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, and ableism (to name a few) is of course, the first step toward advocacy, but awareness alone is not enough to dismantle systems of oppression. To be an Ally requires that a person not simply notice an injustice, but also take action by bringing attention to the injustice and requesting that it be corrected. It is important to note here that Allies are not defined by the assignment of the term; one cannot simply declare themselves an Ally because they believe in justice. Allies are defined by their actions. In other words, the question to ask one’s self is not am I an Ally, but rather, how have I advocated for or supported marginalized people or communities today? Yes, “today” is critical to the assessment of one’s allyship, for the systems of injustice do not take days off and the work of allies must be just as steadfast. Being an ally is a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people and it means learning from and listening to marginalized groups, empowering them, advocating for them, and looking inward to recognize your own bias and privilege.
Identifying and/or presenting as neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine.
Activists and leading scholars have argued that it's not enough for allies to say they're "not racist". Instead, they must actively adopt anti-racism, a set of beliefs and actions that oppose racism and promote the inclusion and equality of Black and brown people in society. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, a scholar and the author of "How to Be an Antiracist" has helped popularize the term.
A member of a Semitic people, originally from the Arabian peninsula and neighboring territories, inhabiting much of the Middle East and North Africa.
Someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction. They are not to be confused with “aromantic people,” who experience little or no romantic attraction. Asexual people do not always identify as aromantic; aromantic people do not always identify as asexual. More generally, some people (asexual or otherwise) identify as having a romantic orientation different than their sexual orientation. The terminology is similar: homoromantic, heteroromantic, biromantic and so on.
A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. It includes “Asian Indian,” “Chinese,” “Filipino,” “Korean,” “Japanese,” “Vietnamese,” and “Other Asian.”
Refers to the sex someone was assigned at birth according to physical, hormonal, and/or chromosomal characteristics.
The process whereby a group gradually adopts the characteristics, customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture.
It has been said that diversity is like being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance, and belonging is dancing like no one’s watching to music the DJ selected that also happens to be my personal favorite playlist — it is that sense of psychological safety that employees can be their authentic selves without fear of judgment and overwhelmingly feel that they belong.
Less obvious. Kind of seems like compliment, even though it's rooted in men's feelings of superiority. It's when men say women are worthy of their protection (off the sinking boat first) or that they're more nurturing than men (therefore should raise children). It's restrictive.
An inclination of preference, especially one that interferes with impartial judgment.
A person who is bicultural has the ability to function effectively and appropriately and can select appropriate behaviors, values and attitudes within either culture.
Prejudice carried to the extreme of overt hatred, often carried to the point of violence.
Prejudice, fear or hatred directed toward bisexual people.
Black can refer to dark-skinned peoples of Africa, Oceania, and Australia or their descendants without regard for the lightness or darkness of skin tone, and who were enslaved by white people. Indigenous, here, refers to ethnic groups native to the Americas, and who were killed en masse by white people. People of Color is an umbrella term for non-white people, especially as they face racism and discrimination in a white dominant culture. Growing in use and awareness during the 2020 George Floyd protests against racism and police brutality, BIPOC is meant to emphasize the particular hardships faced by Black and Indigenous people in the US and Canada—especially because Indigenous people often get forgotten in social justice causes and that anti-Black racism is particularly virulent.
Of, relating to, or involving people from two races; also having parents from two different races.
A person whose emotional, sexual, or romantic attractions are to people of their gender or other gender identities. It is not a transition from straight to gay, as it had once been described.
A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa, Oceania, and Australia or their descendants without regard for the lightness or darkness of skin tone, and who were enslaved by white people. It may include people who indicate their race as “Black” or “African American,” or as “Afro American,” “Kenyan,” “Nigerian,” or “Haitian.” In some social and/or professional settings, the term “African American” is considered, in some settings, to be the more professional and accepted usage.
Limits people set in order to create a healthy sense of personal space. Boundaries can be physical or emotional in nature, and they help distinguish the desires, needs, and preferences of one person from another.
Stealing an idea from a woman and putting it into the world as your own.
Change agents are individuals within an organization, at any level. They are educated about managing diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and committed to facilitating change by modeling appropriate behaviors. They also take every opportunity to ensure that systems, policies and practices are flexible enough to work for everyone, modifying them as appropriate. Change agents include top leadership, management and employees at every level. Because managing diversity represents a major change in the management of human resources, without multi-level change agents implementation will stall. It requires support from leaders with vision, credibility and authority -- our champions. A managing diversity champion actively supports the organization's commitment to managing diversity and is seen by others as a valued member of the current culture and thus has credibility as the organization moves to the new vision.
Someone whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. Cisgender people experience privilege in many aspects of life, from being able to easily find a restroom that matches their gender expression to having their sex listed on their driver's license match their gender.
Any attitude or institutional practice which subordinates people due to income, occupation, education and/or their economic condition.
The act of adjusting one's style of speech, appearance, behavior, and expression in ways that will optimize the comfort of others in exchange for fair treatment, quality service, and employment opportunities. Code-switching often occurs in spaces where negative stereotypes of people run counter to what the dominant culture considers "appropriate" behavior and norms within a specific environment.
An assumption implicitly made about the world and people based on cultural inputs.
The process of self-acceptance and disclosure of sexual orientation to others. People can disclose to none, some, or all of the people they know.
The interaction, communication, or other processes between people or entities from two or more different cultures.
Help that is sensitive and responsive to cultural differences. The goal is to be aware of the impact of culture and possess skills to help provide services or lead in a way that responds appropriately to a person's unique cultural differences, including race and ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or physical disability.
The unconscious process by which we are socialized to adopt the way of thinking of our own group.
Developing organizational processes that are inclusionary rather than exclusionary for cultural conformity.
When someone wears clothing traditionally worn by the other gender. People who identify as Cross-Dressers typically do not want to transition their bodes or live full-time as the other gender.
The collective behavior patterns, communication styles, beliefs, concepts, values, institutions, standards, and other factors unique to a community that are socially transmitted to individuals and to which individuals are expected to conform.
Someone who generally does not experience sexual attraction unless they have formed a strong emotional, but not necessarily romantic, connection with someone.
Illegal treatment of a person or group (either intentional or unintentional) based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, veteran's status and in some states, sexual orientation. The term also includes the failure to remedy the effects of past discrimination.
People who have been dispossed of their sovereign rights to self-government and/or forded to leave their homeland, typically because of colonization, war, persecution, or natural disaster.
A minority-owned business that is at least 51 percent owned, managed and controlled by one or more African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Indian Americans / Native Americans, Asian Indian Americans or Asian Pacific Americans. Acceptable certifications are provided by the National Minority Supplier Development Council and by Federal, State and Local Governments.
Diversity is the similarities and differences of people found in our workforce, our customers, and in the community in which we serve. Diversity includes many characteristics that may be visible such as race, gender, and age, and it also includes less obvious characteristics like personality style, ethnicity, ability, education, religion, job function, life experience, life style, sexual orientation, gender identity, geography, regional differences, work experience, and family situation that make us similar to and different from one another.
Refers to tension, misunderstandings, or conflicts caused by cultural differences in perceptions, values, beliefs and experiences. A diversity disconnect is often caused by the misinterpretation of a statement or a behavior.
The DOBE certification is granted to businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, controlled, and managed by a person with a disability.
Unmarried partners who share living quarters.
Basing terms and conditions of employment, as well as management decisions, on job-related factors without regard to age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion or sex.
Emotional tax refers to the unseen mental work that people from marginalize backgrounds have to do everyday to feel included, respected, and safe. The research firm Catalyst defines it as "the combination of being on guard to protect against bias, feeling different at work because of gender, race, and/or ethnicity, and the associated effects on health, well-being, and ability to thrive at work.
The state of being equal. It's foundational in a democratic society. The fight for equality is the fight to attain different kinds of equality, like racial, gender, or the equality of opportunity between rich and poor, is often associated with progress toward that ideal of everyone being truly equal.
Of or relating to people grouped according to a common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin.
Refers to shared cultural practices, perspectives, and distinctions that set apart one group of people from another. The most common characteristics distinguishing various ethnic groups are culture, religion, language, or the like.
A derogatory term for a radical feminist.
Belief in and desire for equality between the sexes. It is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities and encompasses social, political and economic equality.
A particular way of perceiving and making sense of the world around us. A set of filters through which thoughts, actions and decisions pass.
A common and acceptable word for males who are attracted to other males, but sometimes used for both genders.
This term refers to the external, socially constructed rules, roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for women and men; gender categories are “women” and “men.”
Clinically significant distress caused when a person's assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify. According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the term - which replaces Gender Identity Disorder - "is intended to better characterize the experiences of affected children, adolescents, and adults." It is important to note this is a clinical diagnosis given to transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. It is considered offensive because it labels them “disordered.” “Dysphoria” is used by many trans people to describe experiences of discomfort and/ or alienation from one’s mind and/or body, but cis individuals should not use this term to “diagnose” or label trans people’s lived experiences.
Conveys a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system.
External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.
One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.
One who expresses gender outside traditional norms associated with masculinity or femininity. Not all gender-nonconforming people are transgender, and some transgender people express gender in conventionally masculine or feminine ways.
Genderqueer people typically reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. People who identify as "genderqueer" may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.
A term used by people whose identity shifts or fluctuates. Sometimes these individuals may identify or express themselves as more masculine on some days, and more feminine on others.
Rules assigned by society that define what clothing, behaviors, thoughts, feelings, relationships, etc., are considered appropriate and in- appropriate for members of a given sex.
Someone who prefers not to be described by a specific gender but prefers “they” as a singular pronoun (the American Dialect Society’s 2015 Word of the Year) or the honorific “Mx.,” a substitute for “Mr.” or “Ms.” that entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2015.
The process by which some people strive to more closely align their internal knowledge of gender with its outward appearance. Some people socially transition, whereby they might begin dressing, using names and pronouns and/or be socially recognized as another gender. Others undergo physical transitions in which they modify their bodies through medical interventions.
Barriers, either real or perceived, that affect the promotion or hiring of protected group members.
This is a derogatory phrase and should never be used. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has written specific rules that protect people, mostly immigrants, against employment discrimination on the basis of their national origin. The agency is responsible for enforcing laws that prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age and disability. “Ethnic slurs and other verbal or physical conduct because of nationality are illegal if they are severe or pervasive and create an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment, interfere with work performance, or negatively affect job opportunities,” the commission said on its website to describe harassment based on national origin. “Examples of potentially unlawful conduct include insults, taunting, or ethnic epithets, such as making fun of a person’s foreign accent or comments like, ‘Go back to where you came from,’ whether made by supervisors or co-workers.”
Someone who occasionally experiences sexual attraction but usually does not; it covers a kind of gray space between asexuality and sexual identity.
Discrimination based on hair texture is a form of social injustice, found worldwide, that targets Black people, specifically Black people who have afro-textured hair that has not been chemically straightened.
Words or conduct communicated with malice and with the intent to intimidate or harass another person in a way that is associated with that person’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, or national origin.
Intentional intimidation associated with a person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, or mental, physical, or sensory disability that causes physical injury to another person; or by words or conduct places another person in reasonable fear of harm.
Cultural rules (including social, family, and legal) that pressure everyone to conform to a heterosexual standard of identity. A heteronormative society operates on the assumption that heterosexuality and specific gender features are the human 'default.’ These assumptions can be hurtful because they are stigmatizing and marginalizing, making people who are LGBTQIA+ feel like they are perceived as deviant or unnatural.
The attitude that heterosexuality is the only valid sexual orientation. Heterosexism denies, denigrates, and stigmatizes any non-heterosexual form of behavior, relationship, or community. Heterosexism often takes the form of ignoring or discriminating against LGBTQIA+ individuals or discounting their experiences altogether.
A person whose emotional, sexual, or romantic attractions are primarily to members of the opposite sex.
People who identify with the terms “Hispanic” or “Latino” are those who classify themselves in one of the specific Hispanic or Latino categories—"Mexican," "Puerto Rican," or "Cuban"—as well as those who indicate that they are "other Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino." Origin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the person or the person's parents or ancestors before their arrival in the United States. People who identify their origin as Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino may be of any race.
The irrational fear and hatred of or discomfort with people who are attracted to members of the same sex. It is the fear that enforces sexism and heterosexism. The extreme behavior of homophobia is violence.
The one most people think about. Openly insulting, objectifying, and degrading women.
Anyone who has moved internationally into a destination country of which they are not natives. In the U.S., with the exception of Native Americans, we are all immigrants.
Providing equal opportunity to all people to fully engage themselves in creating an environment and a cultural attitude whereby everyone and every group fits, feels accepted, has value, and is supported by a foundation built on trust and mutual respect.
The act of encouraging belonging.
A variety of systems operating within an organization that have attitudes, behaviors, and practices that subordinate persons or groups because of race or ethnic background.
Irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against Islam or people who practice Islam.
Power plus prejudice.
The process by which a member of an oppressed group comes to oppression: accept and live out the inaccurate myths and stereotypes applied to the oppressed group.
When the belief in women's inferiority becomes part of one's own worldview and self-concept.
Intimate partner violence includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats of physical or sexual violence, stalking, and psychological aggression (including coercive tactics) by a current or former intimate partner.
A legal term created by Kimberléé Williams Crenshaw that holds the classical models of oppression within society, such as those based on race/ethnicity, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, class, species or disability do not act independently of one another; instead, these forms of oppression interrelate, creating a system of oppression that reflects the “intersection” of multiple forms of discrimination.
A term for someone born with biological sex characteristics that aren’t traditionally associated with male or female bodies. Intersexuality does not refer to sexual orientation or gender identity.
LGBTQIA+ individuals who do not openly disclose their sexual orientation to others. People can disclose to none, some, or all of the people they know.
The gender-neutral alternative to Latino, Latina and even Latin@. Used by scholars, activists and an increasing number of journalists, Latinx is quickly gaining popularity among the general public. It’s part of a “linguistic revolution” that aims to move beyond gender binaries and is inclusive of the intersecting identities of Latin American descendants. In addition to men and women from all racial backgrounds, Latinx also makes room for people who are transgender, queer, agender, non-binary, gender non-conforming or gender fluid. Despite the growing popularity of the term, Latinx has been faced with criticism. Many opponents of the term have suggested that using an un-gendered noun like Latinx is disrespectful to the Spanish language and some have even called the term “a blatant form of linguistic imperialism.”
A woman whose emotional, sexual, or romantic attractions are primarily to other women.
This is the acronym most commonly used in the United States to address the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. The acronym can vary in a number of ways, including LGBT, GLBT and GLB, and now includes additional letters, such as Q (queer; also questioning); A (straight ally) or Asexual; and I (intersex) along with the + symbol to denote everything on the gender and sexuality spectrum that letters and words cannot yet describe.
Male-assigned at birth/female-assigned at birth/unassigned at birth.
A way of looking at the world through a masculine lens that views women as sexual objects.
This is a comprehensive managerial process for developing an environment that works for all employees. This process takes into account the need to change organization systems to sustain the organization’s ability to get from all employees everything they have to offer. It means approaching diversity at all three levels: Individual, team or department and organizational. It deals with the way managers do their jobs. It requires a fundamental change in the culture and the way things are done. It is a change in the corporate way of life.
When a man explains something to a woman in a condescending way when he either:
When a man interrupts a woman, especially excessively.
A place where immigrants of different ethnicity or culture form an integrated and homogenous society.
Verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely on their marginalized group identity. Here are some examples of microaggressions.
Small, sometimes unspoken, often unconscious messages we constantly send and receive that have a powerful impact on our interactions with others. They can be either positive or negative. Some common examples include a wink of understanding from across the table; a distracted glance at the ceiling or watch while someone is speaking.
A business that is at least 51 percent owned/operated/ controlled by:
Hatred of men.
When someone incorrectly identifies a person, such as a transgender person, by using the wrong label (such as Mr. or Ms.) or pronoun (such as she, he, or they). It often makes a person feel invalidated as a human being.
Misogyny directed toward Black women.
Hatred of women.
The co-existence of many distinct cultures within a given context, such as community or nation.
An ill-founded belief, usually based on limited experience, given uncritical acceptance by members of a group, especially in support of existing or traditional practices and institutions.
A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. It includes people who indicate their race as “Native Hawaiian,” “Guamanian or Cameron,” “Samoan,” and “Other Pacific Islander.”
The concept that humans don't come in a one-size-fits-all neurologically 'normal' package. It recognizes that all variations of human neurological function need to be respected as just another way of being, and that neurological differences like autism and ADHD are the result of normal/natural variations in the human genome.
A person whose mental or neurological functions are considered "normal" by the general population.
A person who identifies as neither a man nor a woman and sees themselves outside the gender binary. This is sometimes shortened to N.B. or enby. Non-binary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories. While many also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do. One notable example of someone who identifies as Non-Binary is Taylor Mason, a financial analyst on the show “Billions.” Taylor is believed to be the first gender non-binary character on television and is played by the non-binary actor Asia Kate Dillon.
Anyone who does not identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community; most commonly refers to straight/heterosexual individuals.
Organizational assessment involves discovering where the organization is today. This process examines systems, policies and practices to ensure they are flexible enough to support the future state environment. This phase is at the heart of "managing diversity." It involves data collection to assess the organizational climate. It consists of surveys (Employee Opinion Surveys) which are attitudinal in nature to get a sense of what the work environment is like, cultural audits (which look at the organization's roots that drive its systems), assessments of written and unwritten organization policies and procedures, and reviews of complaint and grievance data. Change to support the effective management of diversity must take place at a root level to be lasting.
"Underlying values, beliefs and principles that serve as a foundation for the organization's management system, as well as the set of management practices and behaviors that both exemplify and reinforce those principles." (Cox, Taylor Jr., Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research & Practice, Berrett-Koehler: San Francisco, 1993, p. 161)
An employee who discloses his or her LGBTQIA+ identity to a few, some, or all of his or her coworkers.
Exposing someone’s LGBTQIA+ identity to others without their permission. Outing someone can have serious repercussions on employment, economic stability, personal safety or religious or family situations.
Someone who is attracted to people of all gender identities. Or someone who is attracted to a person’s qualities regardless of their gender identity. (The prefix “pan” means “all,” rejecting the gender binary that some argue is implied by “bisexual.”)
A hierarchical-structured society in which men hold more power.
A person's legal resident status in a country or territory of which such person is not a citizen but where they have the right to reside on a permanent basis.
People of non-European ancestry. All persons self-identifying by the general categories of African-American or Black; Hispanic, Latino or Chicano; Asian or Pacific Islander; American Indian or Native American or Alaskan Native.
A system that holds within it individuals or groups differing in a basic background experiences and cultures. It allows for the development of a common tradition, while preserving the right of each group to maintain its cultural heritage.
Implies a preconceived idea, judgment, or opinion, usually an unfavorable one marked by hatred, and is directed toward a racial religious, cultural, or ethnic group.
A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.
A fluid term with numerous meanings. It is commonly used to describe sexual orientation and/or gender identity or gender expression that does not conform to heterosexual norms. The term is often used to refer to the general LGBTQIA+ community. It can be either a positive or a negative term, depending on the context in which it is used.
A term used to describe people who are in the process of exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
As a biological concept, it defines groups of human beings based on a set of genetically transmitted characteristics, i.e., physical characteristics, including color. The concept of race as a socio-cultural concept is being replaced by the more appropriate concept of ethnicity. The concept of race as used socio-politically by the U.S. Census Bureau reflects self-identification by people according to the race or races with which they most closely identify. The latter socio-cultural and socio-political categories include both racial and national-origin groups.
An awareness of the historical journey of a group, knowledge of disparities impacting that group of people, and a self-appraisal of one's attitudes and biases toward the group.
An assumption that there is an inherent purity and superiority of certain races and inferiority of others. It denotes any attitude, behavior, or institutional structure that subordinates persons or groups because of their race or ethnic background. Such practices can be intentional or unintentional. In essence, it is the systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another.
The rights of individuals to decide whether to reproduce and have reproductive health, including an individual's right to plan a family, terminate a pregnancy, use contraceptives, learn about sex education in public schools, and gain access to reproductive health services.
A term some prefer to use instead of lesbian, gay or bisexual to express attraction to and love of people of the same gender.
How a person feels about herself or himself; pride in oneself. Self-esteem is linked to family traditions, language, social customs, economic background, and other aspects of one's cultural environment.
This term refers to the biological characteristics that define an individual; sex categories are “female,” “male,” or “non-binary.”
A system of beliefs or attitudes, which relegates women to limited roles and/or options because of their sex. It centers on the idea that women are inferior to men.
Unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors (quid pro quo) and other verbal or physical conducts of a sexual nature when:
Individuals who do not identify as part of the sexual majority or cultural mainstream (e.g., straight). Individuals can identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, for example.
A person's sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted.
This term implies sexuality is an individual’s choice. This term has a negative connotation and should not be used.
Genital surgery that a transgender person may undergo. It is only one part of a transgender person’s transition. The term is used by some medical professionals to refer to a group of surgical options that alter a person’s anatomical sex characteristics. While not inherently derogatory term, it is reductive.
Includes all other responses not included in the “White,” “African American or Black,” “American Indian or Native American and Alaska Native,” “Asian,” and the “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander” race categories described above. Persons identified as multiracial, mixed, interracial, or a Hispanic/Latino group (for example, Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban) in the “Some other race” category are included in this category.
A person whose emotional, sexual, or romantic attractions are primarily to members of the opposite sex.
The belief that all people of a certain racial, ethnic, or cultural group are the same and behave in the same way.
A foreign national granted the right to stay in a country for a certain length of time (e.g. with a visa or residency permit), without full citizenship. This may be for study, business, or other reasons.
The acronym for "trans exclusionary radical feminists," referring to feminists who are transphobic.
People who identify with the characteristics, roles, behaviors, or desires of a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth. This identity is not related to sexual preference.
Not a word. Often used as one.
Two umbrella terms for non-cisgender identities.
The term used to describe the process of changing from one gender to the other; taking steps such as changing one’s name and/or medical intervention.
Someone who was assigned female at birth and identifies as male.
A blend of transphobia and misogyny, which manifests as discrimination against "trans women and trans and gender non-conforming people on the feminine end of the gender spectrum."
The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with, transgender people.
Someone who was assigned male at birth and identifies as female.
“Two or more races” refers to combinations of two or more of the following race categories:
A person who identifies as being a part of a third gender that takes a gender-variant ceremonial and social role in their cultures, and is used to describe sexual, gender and/or spiritual identity.
Social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness. Unconscious bias is far more prevalent than conscious prejudice and often incompatible with one's conscious values.
Understanding differences is the awareness and acceptance of differences among and between people both on an interpersonal and personal level. It encompasses myriad dimensions such as race, sex, age, thinking style, religion, sexual orientation, professional degrees, and functionality. This can also refer to organizations and systems (for example, field offices versus headquarters). The objective is to enhance interpersonal or inter-functional relationships.
Foreign-born people who do not possess a valid visa or other immigration documentation, because they entered without inspection, stayed longer than their temporary visa permitted, or otherwise violated the terms under which they were admitted.
Values are our subjective reactions to the world around us. They guide and mold our options and behavior. Values have three important characteristics. First, values are developed early in life and are very resistant to change. Values develop out of our direct experiences with people who are important to us, particularly our parents. Values rise not out of what people tell us, but as a result how they behave toward us and others. Second, values define what is right and what is wrong. Notice that values do not involve external, outside standards to tell right or wrong; rather, wrong, good or bad are intrinsic. Third, values themselves cannot be proved correct or incorrect, valid or invalid, right or wrong. If a statement can be proven true or false, then it cannot be a value. Values tell what we should believe, regardless of any evidence or lack thereof.
Refers to systemic, organizational and personal development work (not a program) that focuses on all employees, clients, customers, and investors feeling valued (not just tolerated).
A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
A company that is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a Veteran.
When the victim of a crime or harmful act is held fully or partially responsible for it. If you hear someone questioning what a victim could have done to prevent a crime, that's victim-blaming, and it makes it harder for people to come forward and report abuse.
Merriam-Webster states as it relates to population groups – this term has historically been fluid, with people of particular ancestries being excluded for a time before being included, and vice versa. The category has also often functioned as a grouping into which people who are not designated as belonging in some other category are placed. Specific parameters are, however, sometimes set, as in the U.S.. 2020 Census, which stipulates that "the category of 'White' includes all individuals who identify with one or more nationalities or ethnic groups originating in Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa." It is important to note, this U.S.. definition is not the most accurate definition given it includes demographics that have not been fully recognized in the U.S. as being their own racial demographic.
A state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves, including the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviors such as argumentation, silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation. An example of this could be a Black person pointing out a white person's problematic or racist behavior and the white person immediately jumping to defend themselves, making excuses and crying instead of listening and accepting what the other person is saying.
A term that originated among white supremacists as a euphemism for white supremacy. Eventually, some white supremacists tried to distinguish it further by using it to refer to a form of white supremacy that emphasizes defining a country or region by white racial identity and which seeks to promote the interests of whites exclusively, typically at the expense of people of other backgrounds.
A term used to characterize various belief systems central to which are one or more of the following key tenets:
Rooted in Black activist culture, it means you're educated and aware, especially about injustice.
A business that is at least 51 percent owned/operated/ controlled by a non-minority woman.
A term to unite women from marginalized communities of color who have experienced oppression. It could include women of African, Asian, Latin or Native American descent.
A paradigm shift in the way we look at rape, moving beyond "no means no" toward the idea that consent must be explicit.
Not just a mathematical symbol anymore, but a denotation of everything on the gender and sexuality spectrum that letters and words cannot yet describe.