DEIB Glossary

An acronym for Asian American Pacific Islander. 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.

Beliefs or practices that rest on the assumption that being able-bodied is “normal” while other states of being need to be “fixed” or altered. This can result in devaluing or discriminating against people with physical, intellectual or psychiatric disabilities. Institutionalized ableism may include or take the form of un/intentional organizational barriers that result in disparate treatment of people with disabilities.

The design, construction, development, and maintenance of facilities, information and communication technology, programs, and services so that all people, including people with disabilities, can fully and independently use them. Accessibility includes the provision of accommodations and modifications to ensure equal access to employment and participation in activities for people with disabilities, the reduction or elimination of physical and attitudinal barriers to equitable opportunities, a commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities can independently access every outward-facing and internal activity or electronic space, and the pursuit of best practices such as universal design.

Any change, alteration or modification to the way things are customarily done that provides an equal opportunity. Examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to, sign language interpreters, materials in alternative formats (such as braille, different font size or digital format), preferential seating, and assistive listening devices.

The practices or policies that focus on improving opportunities for groups of individuals, like women and minorities, who have been historically excluded in United States’ society. In which procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination among applicants, remedy the results of such prior discrimination, and prevent such discrimination in the future.

The stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age; ageism can take many forms, including prejudicial attitudes, discriminatory practices, or institutional policies and practices that perpetuate stereotypical beliefs.

A person who is not a member of a marginalized or disadvantaged group but who expresses or gives support to that group.

The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability.

According to The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), “American Indian or Alaska Native” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

The active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies and practices and attitudes, so that power is redistributed and shared equitably (NAC International Perspectives: Women and Global Solidarity).

Describes a person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others. Asexual people may still engage in sexual activity.

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.

Belonging is the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group.

Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in an unfair or negative way. Unconscious bias, also known as implicit bias, is defined as “attitudes and stereotypes that influence judgment, decision-making, and behavior in ways that are outside of conscious awareness and/or control”.

An unreasonable or irrational attachment to negative stereotypes and prejudices.

Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) is used to highlight the unique relationship to whiteness that Indigenous and Black (African Americans) people have, which shapes the experience of and relationship to white supremacy for all people of color within a U.S. context.

A sexual orientation that describes a person who is emotionally and physically attracted to women/females and men/males. Some people define bisexuality as attraction to all genders.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Black or African Americans are people whose origins are in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. However, in accordance with the definition of ethnicity, ‘Black” refers to a race while “African American” refers to an ethnicity. These labels are often used interchangeably, but this leads to the categorization of all Black people in the U.S as African Americans without consideration for their distinct cultural backgrounds. Other ethnicities of Black people in the U.S. include Afro-Latina/o/x, Caribbean American, Jamaican American, Haitian American, and Nigerian American, amongst numerous other unique ethnicities.

A human rights movement co-founded by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, and Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi. The movement campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward Black people. The movement began with the use of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media after the acquittal of George Zimmermann in the shooting death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin in February 2012.

People of Mexican descent; Chicano refers to men and Chicana to women. Chicanx is used as a gender-neutral or non-binary alternative to Chicano or Chicana. The terms were originally considered derogatory. However, the Chicano movement during the 1960s adopted these names in response to discrimination against Mexican Americans working under unfair labor and social conditions. These terms announce pride in indigenous ancestry, which was a significant ideological element of the Chicano movement. (Kanigel, Chicana, Chicano, n.d.).

From the Latin cis-, meaning “on this side.” A person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth. For example, a person identified as female at birth who identifies as a woman can be said to be a cisgender woman.

The institutional, cultural, and individual set of practices and beliefs that assign differential value to people according to their socioeconomic class in a social system characterized by economic inequality.

The ability to switch 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 comes with a psychological cost for employees who have to mute or hide aspects of who they are to fit in and succeed at work, and can sometimes result in their being ostracized by members of their own group who do not choose to code-switch themselves.

The process by which a person attempts to ignore the existence of race or skin color in service of seeing past race and just seeing the person. This de-emphasizing of race, however, ignores the real, lived experience of people of color in the US and ignores their experience.

The process of identifying and accepting one’s own sexual orientation or gender identity (coming out to oneself), and the process of sharing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity with others (coming out to friends, family, etc.).

A process involving two or more parties in which one party perceives that its interests or goals are being opposed or negatively affected by another.

Originally coined to describe the effects of colonialism, cultural appropriation generally entails adopting aspects of a minority culture by someone outside the culture, without sufficient understanding of its context or respect for the meaning and value of the original. Cultural appropriation done in a way that promotes disrespectful cultural or racial stereotypes is considered particularly harmful.

The conceptual system that structures the way people view the word — the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society. It is the particular set of beliefs, norms, and values that influence ideas about the nature of relationships, the way people live their lives, and the way people organize their world.

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.

Stands for “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.” It was created by Homeland Security in 2012 to provide temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to certain young undocumented immigrants. Furthermore, DACA helps these individuals attain upward mobility in their socioeconomic status and pursue educational opportunities.

A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment (from the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).

The unequal and unfair treatment of individuals or groups 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.

The condition of being different or having differences. Differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, health, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, religion, physical size, education level, job and function, personality traits, and other human differences. Some describe organizational diversity as social heterogeneity.

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was introduced in 2001 as a legislative proposal to permanently protect certain immigrants who came to the United States as children but are vulnerable to deportation. Furthermore, the DREAM Act would provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship, if an individual meets certain eligibility requirements. Young immigrants who would qualify for protection under this Act have been commonly referred to as “Dreamers.” Over the last twenty years, various versions have been submitted to Congress, but none have passed.

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.

Equity refers to fair and just practices and policies that ensure all campus community members can thrive. Equity is different than equality in that equality implies treating everyone as if their experiences are exactly the same. Being equitable means acknowledging and addressing structural inequalities. The principle of equity acknowledges that there are historically underserved and underrepresented populations and that fairness regarding these unbalanced conditions is needed to assist equality in the provision of effective opportunities to all groups.

Ethnicity refers to the social identity and mutual belongingness that defines a group of people on the basis of common origins, shared beliefs, and shared standards of behavior/culture.

Environmental justice is a social justice movement that seeks to dismantle the flawed environmental policies that have long harmed low-income communities and communities of color, and instead pursue policy and development that work to create a sustainable, cooperative, and equitable future for the environment. It rests on the principle that everyone has a right to a clean and healthy environment, and the environmental justice movement strives to attain that. It also seeks to remedy the ills of environmental racism and to give everyone a liveable future.

Coined by the African American civil rights leader Rev. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., “Environmental Racism is racial discrimination in environmental policymaking. It is racial discrimination in the enforcement of regulations and law. It is racial discrimination in the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste disposal and the siting of polluting industries. It is racial discrimination in the official sanctioning of life-threatening presence of poisons and pollutants in communities of color. And it is racial discrimination in the history of excluding people of color from the mainstream environmental groups, decision making boards, commissions and regulatory bodies.”

belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests

A deliberate attempt to undermine a person’s sense of reality or sanity. In a work context, it usually means behaviors that undermine the success, self-confidence, self-esteem, or well-being of the target.

A sexual orientation describing people who are primarily emotionally and physically attracted to people of the same sex and/or gender as themselves. Commonly used to describe men who are primarily attracted to men, but can also describe women attracted to women.

The way a person communicates their gender to the world through mannerisms, clothing, speech, behavior, etc. Gender expression varies depending on culture, context, and historical period.

A person’s internal understanding and perception of their gender. This understanding can be aligned with the social conditioning around their assigned sex at birth — what’s known as being cisgender — or it can be different from the social conditioning around their assigned sex at birth, which can encompass identities that are considered nonbinary, transgender, trans, gender nonconforming, or others. (Adapted from the GLAAD Media Reference Guide.)

A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit into a category.

Gender queer 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 “gender queer” may see themselves as both male or female aligned, neither male or female or as falling completely outside these categories.

A global citizen is aware of their identity within the world and interconnectedness with others. Research conducted by Reysen and Katzarska-Miller (2013, as cited in Saperstein, 2022) posits that a global citizen possesses the following six traits:

1. Global Awareness: Knowledge of global systems and the ability to recognize and appreciate political, social, economic, and cultural differences
2. Caring: Demonstrating a concern for others
3. Cultural Diversity: Recognition and appreciation for the uniqueness of each group within society
4. Social Justice: Advocacy for equal rights and opportunities
5. Sustainability: Environmental, economic, and social responsibilities to protect communities and future generations
6. Responsibility to Act: Taking initiative to address injustices that potentially threaten globalization

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.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a hate crime is “a traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias. For the purposes of collecting statistics, Congress has defined a hate crime as a ‘criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.’ Hate itself is not a crime—and the FBI is mindful of protecting freedom of speech and other civil liberties.”

Refers to a person who is emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to a person of the opposite gender. This is often referred to as straight.

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.

The fear or hatred of homosexuality (and other non‐heterosexual identities), and persons perceived to be gay or lesbian that often manifests itself in the form of prejudice and bias. Homophobia is also a structural form of discrimination manifesting in policies and institutions.

Attracted to members of the same sex. (Not a preferred term. See Gay, Lesbian)

The activation of a social identity within an individual’s social self-schema through identity primes (i.e., stimulus cues that direct attention to some aspect of a person’s social identity) or social distinctiveness (i.e., the extent to which the person’s social identity is unique in the immediate environment). Identity salience is most often elicited when individuals process identity-related information and categorize themselves along identity-related criteria.

Inclusion refers to a campus community where all members are and feel respected, have a sense of belonging, and are able to participate and achieve to their potential. While diversity is essential, it is not sufficient. An institution can be both diverse and non-inclusive at the same time, this a sustained practice of creating inclusive environments is necessary for success. Inclusive processes and practices are ones that strive to bring groups together to make decisions in collaborative, mutual equitable ways.

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.

Individual or personal beliefs, assumptions, attitudes and actions that perpetuate or support racism. Individual racism can occur at both a conscious and unconscious level and can be active or passive.

Occurs in an organization. This includes discriminatory treatment, unfair policies, or biased practices based on race that result in inequitable outcomes for whites over people of color and extend considerably beyond prejudice. These institutional policies typically do not mention any racial group, but the intent is to create advantages. An example is a school system where students of color are more frequently distributed into the most crowded classrooms or underfunded schools and out of the schools with greater resources. (Adapted from the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s “Talking about Race.”)

The conscious or unconscious development of ideas, beliefs, social structures, actions, and behaviors that confirm one’s acceptance of the dominant society’s racist tropes and stereotypes about their own race. It is the simultaneous hating of oneself and one’s own race and valuing the dominant race.

existing, occurring, or carried on between two or more nations.

The complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination(such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect, and their multiple effects on the same individuals or groups. Also refers to the view that overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination and inequality can more effectively be addressed together.

Describes a group of congenital conditions in which the reproductive organs, genitals, and/or other sexual anatomy do not develop according to traditional expectations for females or males. Intersex can also be used as an identity term for someone with one of these conditions.

A person of Latin American origin or descent, with o-ending associated with masculine terms and a-ending associated with feminine terms. Latinx is used as a gender-neutral or non-binary alternative to Latino or Latina.

A sexual orientation that describes a woman who is primarily emotionally and physically attracted to other women

Acronyms that refer to communities of individuals who are not heterosexual and/or cisgender. Individually, the letters stand for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual. The plus (+) includes all other expressions of gender identity and sexual orientation and recognizes that definitions may grow and evolve over time.

The act of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression

A social process by which individuals or groups are (intentionally or unintentionally) distanced from access to power and resources and constructed as insignificant, peripheral, or less valuable/privileged to a community or “mainstream” society. This term describes a social process, so as not to imply a lack of agency. Marginalized groups or people are those excluded from mainstream social, economic, cultural, or political life.

An acronym for the Middle East and North Africa region. The World Bank includes 21 countries as part of this region based on their 2023 report. Activists have recently argued for the use of SWANA and WANA in lieu of MENA for geographical accuracy. See terms for more information.

A comment or action that unconsciously or unintentionally expresses or reveals a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group, such as a racial minority. These small, common occurrences include insults, slights, stereotyping, undermining, devaluing, delegitimizing, overlooking or excluding someone. Over time, microaggressions can isolate and alienate those on the receiving end, and affect their health and wellbeing.

A microaffirmation is a small gesture of inclusion, caring or kindness. They include listening, providing comfort and support, being an ally and explicitly valuing the contributions and presence of all. It is particularly helpful for those with greater power or seniority to “model” affirming behavior.

Sir Francis Galton, a pioneer in the study of heredity in the late nineteenth century , coined the terms “Nature” and “Nurture” to describe the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in shaping human traits. Nature can be characterized as our inherited traits genetically determined. Nurture, on the other hand, refers to external factors such as education, experiences, or traditions that influence our development. While Galton believed that these two forces were distinct and could be studied separately, contemporary scientific understanding has revealed that Nature and Nurture are not mutually exclusive but rather work together to shape our individual characteristics. The Nature-Nurture debate remains ongoing in determining its relationship to our behavior and development.

When neurological differences are recognized and respected as are any other kind of human differences or variations. These differences can include Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum, and Tourette Syndrome.

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

Results from the use of institutional power and privilege where one person or group benefits at the expense of another. Oppression is the use of power and the effects of domination. In the context of social justice, oppression is discrimination against a social group that is backed by institutional power.

A pragmatic approach to justice that is entirely discretionary and transcends legal rights or precedent, enabling the court to make such an order as it thinks fair and just in the circumstances of the case.

A sexual orientation that describes a person who is emotionally and physically attracted to people of all gender identities, or whose attractions are not related to other people’s gender.

A blanket term to include those who do not identify as only white or Caucasian. This is the preferred and most inclusive term, currently.

The ability to exercise one’s will over others. Power occurs when some individuals or groups wield a greater advantage over others, thereby allowing them greater access to and control over resources. Wealth, whiteness, citizenship, patriarchy, heterosexism, and education are a few key social mechanisms through which power operates.

A pre-judgement or preconceived opinion, feeling, or belief, in favor of or against a person, a group, an event, an idea, or a thing often based on stereotypes, that includes feelings such as dislike or contempt and is often enacted as discrimination or other negative behavior; or, a set of negative personal beliefs about a social group that leads individuals to prejudge individuals from that group or the group in general, regardless of individual differences among members of that group. An action based on prejudgment is discrimination. A negative prejudgment is often called a stereotype. An action based on a stereotype is called bigotry.

A term reminiscent of the military-industrial complex coined by Dwight D. Eisenhower to depict the alliance of private corporations, government agencies, and professional organizations who assert their authority on policy and spending to profit from incarceration.

An unearned, sustained advantage afforded to some over others based on group identities related to race, gender, sexuality, ability, socioeconomic status, age, and/or other identities.

Words to refer to a person after initially using their name. Gendered pronouns include she and he, her and him, hers and his, and herself and himself. Personal/Preferred gendered pronouns (PGPs) are the pronouns that people ask others to use in reference to themselves. They may be plural gender-neutral pronouns such as they, them, their(s). Or, they may be ze (rather than she or he) or hir (rather than her(s) and him/his). (The Safe Zone Project)

Historically a derogatory term used against LGBTQIA+ people, it has been embraced and reclaimed by LGBTQIA+ communities. Queer is often used to represent all individuals who identify outside of other categories of sexual and gender identity. Queer may also be used by an individual who feels as though other sexual or gender identity labels do not adequately describe their experience.

Describes a person who is unsure about, or is exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

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.

The systematic fair treatment of people of all races, resulting in equitable opportunities and outcomes for all. Racial justice is not just the absence of discrimination and inequities but also the presence of deliberate systems and supports to achieve and sustain racial equity through proactive and preventative measures.

Prejudiced thoughts and discriminatory actions based on a difference in race/ethnicity; usually by white/European descent groups against persons of color. Racism is racial prejudice plus power. It is the intentional or unintentional use of power to isolate, separate and exploit others. The use of power is based on a belief in superior origin, the identity of supposed racial characteristics. Racism confers certain privileges on and defends the dominant group, which in turn, sustains and perpetuates racism.

In their article that focuses on the evolution of militant jihadism, which they’ve characterized as ‘homegrown terrorism,’ Wilner and Dubouloz (2010) define radicalization as “a personal process in which individuals adopt extreme political, social, and/or religious ideals and aspirations, and where the attainment of particular goals justifies the use of indiscriminate violence. It is both a mental and emotional process that prepares and motivates an individual to pursue violent behaviour.”

A code of belief or philosophy that often involves the worship of a God or gods. Belief in a supernatural power is not essential (absent in, for example, Buddhism and Confucianism), but faithful adherence is usually considered to be rewarded.

A setting that involves direct communication, often with a facilitator, between the victims, offenders, and some or full representation of the relevant affected community to promote accountability, understanding, and reconciliation.

A place where anyone can relax and be fully self- expressed, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, age or physical or mental ability; a place where the rules guard each person’s self-respect and dignity and strongly encourage everyone to respect others.

A term used to classify individuals as male, female, or intersex (often at birth or based on an ultrasound) based on their chromosomal, hormonal, and anatomical characteristics.

Sexism originally referred to the belief in the existence of a hierarchy where men are advantaged and women are disadvantaged. They’re prejudiced thoughts and discriminatory actions based on a difference in sex/gender; usually by men against women.

Emotional, romantic, or sexual feelings toward other people. While sexual behavior involves the choices one makes in acting on one’s sexual orientation, sexual orientation is part of the human condition, one’s sexual activity does not define one’s sexual orientation; typically, it is the attraction that helps determine orientation. It is determined by a complex interaction of biological, genetic, and environmental factors.

Social capital is defined as networks of people and community resources that can help students navigate through society’s institutions and attain employment, healthcare, education, and legal justice opportunities.

A form of activism based on principles of equity and inclusion that encompasses a vision of society in which the distribution of resources is equitable, and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure.

The social standing or class of an individual or group. It is often measured as a combination of education, income and occupation. Examinations of socioeconomic status often reveal inequities in access to resources, plus issues related to privilege, power and control.

An oversimplified generalization about a person or a group. These can be about both negative and positive qualities but regardless, they lump people together. Stereotypes are cognitive shortcuts and become a bias when you apply the stereotype to an action. They go beyond necessary and useful categorizations and generalizations in that they are typically negative, are based on little information and are highly generalized.

The overarching system of racial bias across institutions and society. It is a system in which public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and other norms work in various, often reinforcing ways to perpetuate racial inequities. It encompasses dimensions of our history and culture that have allowed privileges associated with “whiteness” and disadvantages associated with “color” to endure and adapt over time. Examples can include the racial gap in wealth, homeownership, education, historical redlining practices, among others.

A decolonial word for the South West Asian/ North African region in place of Middle Eastern, Near Eastern, Arab World or Islamic World that have colonial, Eurocentric, and Orientalist origins.

An interlocking and reciprocal relationship among the individual, institutional, and structural levels that function as a system of racism. These various levels of racism operate together in a lockstep model and function together as a whole system: (1) individual (within interactions between people), (2) institutional (within institutions and systems of power), and (3) structural or societal (among institutions and across society).

Hiring or seeking to have representation such as a few women and/or racial or ethnic minority persons so as to appear inclusive while remaining mono-cultural.

Toxic masculinity has been defined and used in numerous ways. It was originally coined by Shephard Bliss in the 1980s within the mythopoetic men’s movement in reference to his father’s militarized, authoritarian masculinity. In the 1990s and 2000s, the study of toxic masculinity expanded to self-help, academic, and policy literature, which further suggested that toxically masculine men were the products of emotionally distant father-son relationships. The term then increasingly gained popularity in a new feminist movement, where feminists began associating the term with homophobic and misogynist speech and violence by men. This interpretation of toxic masculinity was used in discussions surrounding the U.S. President Trump and the #MeTooMovement.

Transformative Justice (TJ) is a political framework and approach for responding to violence, harm, and abuse. At its most basic, it seeks to respond to violence without creating more violence and/or engaging in harm reduction to lessen the violence. TJ can be thought of as a way of “making things right,” getting in “right relation,” or creating justice together.

An umbrella term used to describe people who are not cisgender, who have a gender identity different from their sex assigned at birth. The term transgender is not indicative of gender expression, sexual orientation, hormonal makeup, physical anatomy, or how one is perceived in daily life.

Discrimination towards, fear, marginalization, and hatred of transgender people or those perceived as transgender. Individuals, communities, policies, and institutions can be transphobic.

Describes a person who embodies both a masculine and a feminine spirit. This is a culture-specific term used among some Native American, American Indian, and First Nations people.

An abbreviation for Under-Represented Minorities. Some institutions have defined sub-groups within larger racial/ethnic minority groups that are particularly under-represented relative to their size. For example, in a given field, Mexican-Americans may be an under-represented minority, even if Hispanic people are otherwise proportionately represented.

A decolonial word for the West Asia-North Africa region in place of MENA. The pairing of West Asia and North Africa reflects the key patterns of development in the region, geopolitical interdependencies, and the nature of key threats and challenges. This definition acknowledges the principal economic and geopolitical factors that link and influence the region’s development. These include the growing economic influence of Turkey, the resource holdings of the Gulf States, and the influence of Iran and Israel on regional stability.

A state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves. These moves include the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviors such as argumentation, silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium.

The inherent set of advantages, entitlements, benefits, and choices bestowed on people solely because they are white; an exemption of social, political, and/or economic burdens placed on non-white people. Generally, white people who experience privilege, both at the collective and individual level, do so without being conscious of it and may not experience socioeconomic privilege but are not hindered by the economic barriers associated with the color of one’s skin.

The idea (or ideology) that white people and the ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of white people are superior to People of Color and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions. White supremacy is ever present in our institutional and cultural assumptions that assign value, morality, goodness, and humanity to the white group while casting people and communities of color as worthless (worth less), immoral, bad, and inhuman and “undeserving.”

Derived from the Greek word “xenos”, meaning stranger or foreigner, Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of those who are perceived as foreigners, manifested by suspicion of their activities, a desire to eliminate their presence, or seen as a threat to their national, ethnic or racial identity. Both xenophobia and racism often overlap, but the former is most likely associated with people outside of the country or community, while racism is associated most often with inferiority associated with physical characteristics or biological inferiority.