AAPI - An acronym that stands for Asian American and Pacific Islander. The term is used to describe a diverse and fast-growing population of 23 million Americans that include roughly 50 ethnic groups with roots in more than 40 countries. This includes all people of Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander ancestry who trace their origins to the countries, states, jurisdictions and/or the diasporic communities of these geographic regions

Ableism - A belief or set of discriminatory actions against individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities or psychiatric disorders.

Accessibility - The intentional design or redesign of physical spaces, technology, policies, system, entity products, and services (to name a few) that increase one’s ability to use, access, and obtain the respective element.

Accommodation - A change in the environment or in the way things are customarily done that allows an individual with a disability to have equal opportunity, access and participation.

ADA - An acronym that stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA is a civil rights law signed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities.

Ageism - Prejudiced thoughts and discriminatory actions based on differences in age; usually that of younger persons against older.

Bias (Prejudice) - An inclination or preference, especially one that interferes with impartial judgment. A form of prejudice that results from the universal tendency and need of individuals to classify others into categories.

Bigotry - An unreasonable or irrational attachment to negative stereotypes and prejudices.

BIPoC - An acronym that stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. It is based on the recognition of collective experiences of systemic racism and meant to emphasize the hardships faced by Black and Indigenous people in the United States and Canada and is also meant to acknowledge that not all People of Color face the same levels of injustice. The use of this term is still evolving and contested by some activists.

Classism - The institutional, cultural and individual set of actions and beliefs that assign differential value to people according to their socioeconomic status.

Colorism - The prejudice and or discrimination against an individual with darker skin color, tone, shade, pigmentation or complexion.

Cultural Appropriation - The act of adopting or stealing cultural elements (e.g., icons, rituals, aesthetic standards or behavior) of one culture or subculture by another for personal use or profit. It is generally applied when the subject culture is a minority culture. Often occurs without any real understanding of why the original (or “appropriated”) culture took part in these activities.
 
Cultural Competence - The ability of an individual or organization to understand how inequity can be (and has been) perpetuated through socialized behaviors and using that knowledge to disrupt inequitable practices; the ability to function effectively and empathetically as an individual and/or as an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by another’s culture.

Disability - The physical or mental condition, the perception of a physical or mental impairment or a history of having had a physical or mental impairment that can affect an individual’s life in one or more major life activities.

Discrimination - The unequal and unfair treatment of individuals or groups unequal and unfair treatment based on race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, national origin, age, intellectual or mental abilities and other categories that may result in differences. It also describes the act of making unjustified distinctions between certain social or racial groups or classes.

Diversity - The presence of different and multiple characteristics that make up individual and collective identities, including race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, language, and physical ability.

Equality - In the context of diversity, equality is typically defined as treating everyone the same and giving everyone access to the same opportunities. It means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities.

ESL - An acronym for English as a Second Language. ESL refers to individuals who do not speak English as their first or primary language but may still be proficient in speaking English.

Ethnicity - A common identity based on ancestry, language, culture, nation or region of origin. Ethnic groups can possess shared attributes, including religion, beliefs, customs and/or shared memories and experiences.

Feminism - The theory and practice that focuses on the advocacy of social, economic and political equality between men, women and all gender identities.

Gender Identity - Simply put, gender identity refers to how a person sees themselves in terms of their gender. That is, it refers to a person’s own internal sense of self and their gender, whether that is man, woman, neither or both. Unlike gender expression, gender identity is not outwardly visible to others.

Harassment - Unwanted conduct with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment based on their race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, and/or age, among other things.

HBCU - An acronym that stands for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Hispanic - A term that describes people, descendants, and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries, including many Latin American countries and Spain. The term is not synonymous with Latino/Latina/Latinx. See also Latinx.

Homophobia - Fear, prejudice, discomfort or hatred of people attracted to members of the same gender. It occurs in a wide social context that systematically disadvantages LGBTQ+ people and promotes and rewards anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment.

Implicit Bias (Hidden or Unconscious Bias) - The unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect a person’s understanding, actions or decisions as they relate to people from different groups.

Inclusion - The process and practice of creating environments in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported and valued to participate fully.

Inclusive Language - Language that acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities.

Indigenous People - A term used to identify ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area (also known as First People), in contrast to groups that have settled, occupied, or colonized the area more recently. In the United States, this can refer to groups traditionally termed Native Americans (American Indians), Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. In Canada, it can refer to the groups typically termed First Nations.

Marginalization - The process that occurs when members of a dominant group relegate a particular group (minority groups and cultures) to the edge of society by not allowing them an active voice, identity or place for the purpose of maintaining power. Marginalized groups have restricted access to resources like education and healthcare for achieving their aims.

Misgender - Referring or relating to a person using language whether a word or a pronoun that is not in line with another’s gender identity, whether intentionally or unintentionally. This behavior or action often occurs when people make assumptions about a person’s gender identity.

Minority Group - Any group of people who, because of their physical, neurological, or cultural characteristics, are singled out from others in society through differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination. The dominant group is that which holds the most power in society compared to minority groups. Being a numerical minority is not a characteristic of being in a minority group; it is the lack of power that is the predominant characteristic of a minority group.

Misogyny - Hatred, aversion or prejudice against women. Misogyny can be manifested in numerous ways, including sexual discrimination, denigration of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification of women.

Neurodiversity - The presence of neurological differences that present in the way individuals act, think, hear and communicate. These differences in neurological conditions can include Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autism Spectrum and more.

Non-binary - A term describing a spectrum of gender identities that are not exclusively male or female. Non- binary people may identify outside the gender binary categories.

Oppression -A system of supremacy and discrimination for the benefit of a limited dominant group perpetuated through differential or unjust treatment, ideology and institutional control.

People of Color - A collective term for individuals of Asian, African, Latinx and Native American backgrounds with the common experience of being targeted and oppressed  by  racism.  While  each  oppressed  group is affected by racism differently and maintains its own unique identity and culture, there is also the recognition that racism has the potential to unite oppressed people in a collective of resistance. For this reason, many individuals who identify as members of racially oppressed groups also claim the identity of being People of Color. This in no way diminishes their specific cultural or racial identity; rather it is an affirmation of the multiple layers of identity of every individual.

PFL - An acronym that stands for Person First Language. Person-first language conveys respect by emphasizing that people with disabilities are first and foremost people. The most common example being “person with a disability.” 

Prejudice - An inclination or preference, especially one that interferes with impartial judgment and can be rooted in stereotypes that deny the right of individual members of certain groups to be recognized and treated as individuals with unique characteristics.

Race - A social construct that divides people into distinct groups based on characteristics such as physical appearance (particularly skin color), ancestral heritage, cultural affiliation, cultural history, ethnic classification and, often, are associated with the social, economic and political needs of a society at a given time.

Racism - The systematic subjugation of members of targeted racial groups, generally non-white groups, who hold less socio-political power. It involves actions correlated with or resulting from bigotry or the thinking that one’s racial differences produce an inherent inferiority of a particular race, mainly the dominant race. Racism differs from prejudice, hatred or discrimination because it requires one racial group to have systematic power and superiority over other groups in society.

Sexual Orientation - The sex(es) or gender(s) to whom a person is emotionally, physically, sexually, and/ or romantically attracted. Examples of sexual orientation can include gay, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, asexual, pansexual, queer, etc.

Stereotype - A form of generalization rooted in blanket beliefs and false assumptions, a product of categorization processes that can result in a prejudiced attitude, uncritical judgment and intentional or unintentional discrimination. Stereotypes are typically negative and based on little information that does not recognize individualism and personal agency.

Transgender - An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from their sex assigned at birth. Trans is sometimes used as shorthand for transgender. Transgender or “trans” does not imply any form of sexual orientation. Cisgender is a gender identity where an individual’s self-perception of their gender matches their sex.

Transphobia - Fear or hatred of transgender people; transphobia is manifested in many ways, including violence, harassment and discrimination. This phobia can exist in LGBTQIA+ and straight communities.

Underrepresented Groups - Groups who traditionally (or historically) have not had equal access to economic opportunities because of discrimination or other societal barriers. This may vary by context and geography but can include race, gender, ethnicity, sexual- orientation, disability or low-income status. Examples of groups may be considered underrepresented can include women or women of color in a traditionally male and/or white discipline such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Veteran Status - Whether or not an individual has served in a nation’s armed forces (or other uniformed services).

Xenophobia - Any attitude, behavior, practice or policy which explicitly or implicitly reflects the belief that immigrants are inferior to the dominant group of people. Xenophobia is reflected in interpersonal, institutional, and systemic levels of oppression and white supremacy.