sign in sign up
<<
Home , Audism, Biphobia, Transmisogyny

Glossary of Terms

The519.org The519 Education and Training “______“ism Cultural Competence “______” phobia D A Differently-Abled Accommodation Ally Anti- Dominant Group Asexual King/ Duty to Accommodate B Barrier E Equality Bisexual Equity Ethnicity G C Cis/ Genderqueer /Gender Non-Conforming Cisnormativity /Gender Variant Cissexism Colonization Cross-Dresser Culture Gender Norms

Glossary of Terms MSM Gender Spectrum O H Harassment P Pansexual Power Poz I Inclusion Privilege Indigenous Peoples Q Questioning

L R Race

M S Marginalization

Glossary of Terms Sex-Positive This Glossary is by no means an exhaustive Social Determinants of Health list of definitions related to our communities, Social Justice and has been carefully crafted in the hopes Stealth that it will aid in the facilitation of shared understandings around equity, inclusion and Stigma awareness. Straight

T Tokenism Trans/ Transition (FTM)/ (MTF) Two-Spirit

W WSW

Z Ze/Hir

Glossary of Terms “______”ism ability. Accommodations are provided so that Harmful beliefs, behaviours or institutional individuals are not disadvantaged on the basis practices by a group or person with power of the prohibited grounds of discrimination directed against specific groups, rationalized identified in the Ontario Human Rights Code by an underlying belief that certain people are or other similar codes. Accommodation with superior to others. Examples include: , dignity is pursuing the principle that our anti-semitism, , cis-, classism, society should be structured and designed for ethnocentrism, heterosexism, racism, sexism, inclusiveness. shadism, .

Ally “______”phobia A person who works to end a form of A learned dislike, aversion, or an extreme, oppression that gives them privilege(s). Allies irrational fear and/or hatred of a particular listen to, and are guided by, communities and group of people. It is expressed through individuals affected by oppression. Forms of beliefs and tactics that devalue, demean and oppression include: able-ism, ageism, audism, terrorize people. Examples include: biphobia, classism, biphobia, homophobia, transphobia, homophobia, , transphobia, racism, sexism, and others. and others. Anti-Racism Beliefs, actions, policies and movements

Accommodation developed to actively identify and eliminate An adjustment made to policies, programs prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. and/or practices to enable individuals to benefit from and participate in the provision of services equally and perform to the best of their

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 5 of 21 Asexual A sexual orientation where a person Biphobia experiences little or no sexual attraction. Negative attitudes, feelings, or irrational aversion to, fear or hatred of bisexual people

Barrier and their communities, or of behaviours Any overt or covert obstacle that prevents a stereotyped as bisexual, leading to person from fully taking part in all aspects of discrimination, harassment or violence against society. For example, a belief, policy, practice, bisexual people. object or environment that prevents or limits a

person’s access to opportunities, benefits, or Bullying advantages that are available to other members The use of threat, coercion, or force to cause of society. fear, distress or harm to a person.

Bias Coming Out A subjective opinion, predisposition, A process of revealing more openly to self or preference, prejudice, generalization or others one’s LGBTQ identity. inclination, formed based on personal characteristics or .

Bisexual A person who is emotionally, physically, spiritually and/or sexually attracted to people of more than one gender, though not necessarily at the same time.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 6 of 21 Cis/Cisgender Cissexism Cisgender is used to explain the phenomena A system of oppression that considers cis where a person’s gender identity is in line people to be superior to trans people. It with or “matches” the sex they were assigned includes harmful beliefs that it is “normal” to at birth. Cis can also be used as a prefix to an be cis and “abnormal” to be trans. Examples assortment of words to refer to the alignment include scrutinizing the of trans people of gender identity and the assigned at birth more than those of cis people or defining sex status including; cisnormativity, cissexual, beauty based on how cis people look. cisgender, cis male, and cis .

Colonization Cisnormativity The process of focusing on and devaluing Cisnormativity (“cis” meaning “the same as”) people’s differences in order to dominate and refers to the commonplace assumption that all control them, including various economic, people are cisgender and that everyone accepts political and social policies by which a powerful this as “the norm”. The term cisnorma­tivity is group maintains or extends control over other used to describe systemic prejudice against people or areas. trans. This form of systemic prejudice may go

unrecognized by the people or orga­nizations Cross-Dresser responsible. A person who, for various reasons, wears gender atypical clothing or occasionally dresses in clothing of the “opposite” gender. They may or may not self-identify as a cross-dresser.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 7 of 21 Culture Differently-Abled The sum of many things an individual learns (and An umbrella term used to describe people with may modify or pass on) from being immersed in different physical, emotional, and cognitive a particular context – the shared (or perceived abilities. to be shared) ideas, beliefs, values, behavioural

norms, knowledge, customs and traditions of Disability a group of people who share some historical, Under the medical model, this term refers to geographic, religious, racial, linguistic, ethnic or a limitation or loss of physiological abilities, social context. whether apparent or not. These can be physical, cognitive, learning, and visual . Under

Cultural Competence the social model, disability is identified as a A person’s ability to interact effectively disadvantage or a restriction of activity caused with people of different cultures. Cultural by systemic barriers, negative attitudes and competence has four components: (a) exclusion by society. Awareness of one’s own cultural worldview; (b) Attitude towards cultural differences; (c) Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews; and (d) Cross- cultural skills. Developing cultural competence results in an ability to better understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 8 of 21 Discrimination “opposite” gender for performance. Drag Any form of unequal treatment based performers can be of any gender identity or on a ground protected by human rights sexual orientation. legislation, that results in disadvantage,

whether imposing extra burdens or denying Duty to Accommodate benefits. Discrimination can be intentional The legal obligation that employers, or unintentional; and it may occur at an organizations, service providers and public individual or systemic level. It may be include institutions have under human rights legislation direct actions or more subtle aspects of rules, to ensure fair and equal access to services in a practices and procedures that limit or prevent way that respects the dignity of every person, access to opportunities, benefits, or advantages if to do so does not create undue hardship. that are available to others. The principle of dignity strives to maximize integration and promote full participation in

Dominant Group society, in consideration of the importance of A group that is considered more powerful and privacy, confidentiality, comfort, autonomy, privileged in a particular society or context and individuality and self-esteem. that has power and influence over others.

Equality /Drag Queen The practice of ensuring equal treatment to all Someone who dresses in the clothing of the people, without consideration of individual and “opposite” gender for performance. Drag group diversities. performers can be of any gender identity or sexual orientation. Someone who dresses in the clothing of the

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 9 of 21 Equity Gender The practice of ensuring fair, inclusive and Gender is based on the expectations and respectful treatment of all people, with stereotypes about behaviours, actions, and consideration of individual and group roles linked to being a “man” or “woman” within diversities. Access to services, supports and a particular culture or society. The social norms opportunities and attaining economic, political related to gender can vary depending on the and social fairness cannot be achieved by culture, and can change over time. treating individuals in exactly the same way.

Equity honours and accommodates the specific Genderqueer/Gender Non-Conforming/ needs of individuals/ groups. Gender Variant Individuals who do not follow gender

Ethnicity stereotypes based on the sex they were A socially defined category or membership of assigned at birth. They may identify and express people who may share a nationality, heritage, themselves as “feminine men” or “masculine language, culture and/or religion. women” or as androgynous, outside of the categories “boy/man” and “girl/woman.” People

Gay who are gender non-conforming may or may A person whose enduring physical, romantic, not identify as trans. spiritual, emotional, and/or sexual attractions are to people of the same gender. The word can refer to men or women, although some women prefer “lesbian.” Sometimes used as an umbrella term for the LBGTQ community.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 10 of 21 Gender Binary chosen name, preferred pronoun and apparel A social system whereby people are thought are common ways they express their gender. to have either one of two gen­ders: “man” or People who are trans may also take medically “woman.” These genders are expected to supportive steps to align their body with their correspond to birth sex: male or female. In the gender identity. gender binary system, there is no room for

living between genders or for transcending the Gender Identity gender binary. The gender binary system is A person’s internal and individual experience of rigid and restrictive for many people whose sex gender. It is a person’s sense of being a woman, assigned at birth does not match up with their a man, both, neither, or anywhere along the gender, or whose gender is fluid and not fixed. gender spectrum. A person’s gender identity may be the same as or different from their

Gender Expression birth-assigned sex. A person’s gender identity is How a person publicly expresses or presents fundamentally different from and not related to their gender. This can include behaviour and their sexual orientation. outward appearance such as dress, hair, make- up, body language and voice. A person’s chosen name and pronoun are also common ways of expressing gender. Others perceive a person’s gender through these attributes.

All people, regardless of their gender identity, have a gender expression and they may express it in any number of ways. For trans people, their

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 11 of 21 Gender Norms Gender Spectrum The gender binary influences what society The representation of gender as a continuum, as considers “normal” or acceptable behaviour, opposed to a binary concept. dress, appearance and roles for women and

men. Gender norms are a prevailing force in our Harassment everyday lives. Strength, action, and dominance A course of comments or actions, such as are stereotyp­ically seen as “masculine” traits, unwelcome attention, jokes, threats, remarks, while vulnerability, passivity, and receptiveness name-calling, touching or other behaviours that are stereotypically seen as “feminine” traits. are known, or ought reasonably to be known, A woman expressing masculine traits may be to be unwelcome, offensive, embarrassing, chastised as “overly aggressive,” while a man humiliating, or demeaning. Harassment under expressing “feminine” traits may be labelled as human rights legislation is based on the “weak.” Gender norms can contribute to power prohibited/protected grounds. imbalances and gender in equality in the home,

at work, and in communities. Hate Crime Criminal acts which promote hatred against

Gender Role identifiable groups of people, motivated by The oppressive culturally and historically bias, prejudice or hate. Although individuals and specific expectations and restrictions that are groups that promote this destructive form of placed on a person based on whether they are human rights-based discrimination often defend assigned at birth as male or female. their right to “free speech,” it is a criminal offense to disseminate hate propaganda and/or to commit hate crimes.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 12 of 21 Heteronormativity people and communities, or of behaviours Refers to the commonplace assumption stereotyped as “homosexual.” It is used to that all people are heterosexual and that signify a hostile psychological state leading to everyone accepts this as “the norm”. The term discrimination, harassment or violence against heteronormativity is used to describe prejudice gay, lesbian or people. against people that are not heterosexual, and

is less overt or direct and more widespread Human Rights or systemic in society, organizations, and The universal entitlement that all people institutions. This form of systemic prejudice may should have access to freedom, justice and even be unintentional and unrecognized by the protection from discrimination and harassment, people or orga­nizations responsible. and that people should have equal access to a climate that preserves the dignity and worth of

Heterosexism individuals and groups. The assumption that everyone is heterosexual

and that is superior and Inclusion preferable. The result is discrimination against An approach that aims to reach out to and bisexual, lesbian and gay people that is less include all people, honouring the overt, and which may be unintentional and and uniqueness, talents, beliefs, backgrounds, unrecognized by the person or organization capabilities and ways of living of individuals and responsible for the discrimination. groups.

Homophobia Negative attitudes, feelings, or irrational aversion to, fear or hatred of gay, lesbian, or

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 13 of 21 Indigenous Peoples feelings of inferiority, resignation, isolation, An umbrella term for self-identified descendants and powerlessness. It is a mechanism within of pre-colonial/pre-settler societies. In Canada an oppressive system for perpetuating power these include the First Nations, Inuit and Métis imbalance. peoples as separate peoples with unique

heritages, economic and political systems, Intersectionality languages, cultural practices and spiritual When two or more overlap in the beliefs. While the collective term has offered experiences of an indi­vidual or group, creating a sense of solidarity among some indigenous interconnected barriers and complex forms of communities, the term should not serve to discrimination that can be insidious, covert and erase the distinct , languages, cultural compounded. practices, and sovereignty of the more than fifty nations that lived in Canada prior to European colonization.

Internalized Oppression When members of a marginalized group accept negative aspects of stereotypes assigned to them by the dominant group, and begin to believe that they are inferior. The incorporation by individuals within an oppressed group of the against them within the dominant society can result in self-hatred, self-concealment, fear of violence,

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 14 of 21 Intersex Marginalization A term used to describe a person born with To relegate individuals or groups to an reproductive systems, chromosomes and/or unimportant or powerless position within hormones that are not easily characterized as a society or group by excluding them from male or female. This might include a woman meaningful participation and/or confining them with XY chromosomes or a man with ovaries to the outer edges of society. instead of testes. Intersex characteristics occur

in one out of every 1,500 births. Typically Misogyny intersex people are assigned one sex, male or The hatred and denigration of women and female, at birth. Some intersex people identify characteristics deemed feminine. with their assigned sex, while others do not, and Transmisogyny some choose to identify as intersex. Intersex people may or may not identify as trans or Negative attitudes, expressed through cultural transgender. hate, individual and state violence, and discrimination directed toward trans women

Lesbian and trans and gender non-conforming people A woman who is emotionally, physically, on the feminine end of the gender spectrum. spiritually and/or sexually attracted to women.

MSM A man who has sex with men.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 15 of 21 Oppression Polyamory The obvious and subtle ways dominant groups The practice, state or ability of having more unjustly maintain status, privilege and power than one intimate, sexual and/or romantic over others, using physical, psychological, social relationship at the same time. or economic threats or force. Frequently an

explicit ideology is used to sanction the unfair Power subjugation of an individual or group by a more Access to privileges such as information/ powerful individual or group, which causes knowledge, connections, experience and injustices in everyday interactions between expertise, resources and decision making that marginalized groups and the dominant group. enhance a person’s chances of getting what they need to live a comfortable, safe, productive

Pansexual and profitable life. Each person has different A person who has the potential for romantic and levels of power in different contexts depending sexual attraction to people of any gender or sex. on a personal combination of privileges and oppression.

Passing This is the privilege given to a person who is Poz believed to be a member of a dominant group An abbreviation referring to an HIV positive (i.e., non-trans, cisgender, white, non-disabled). person. When a trans woman is passing, (i.e., believed to be a cisgender woman) she has an easier time accessing privilege(s).

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 16 of 21 Prejudice Questioning A negative prejudgment or preconceived A period where a person explores their own feelings or notions about another person sexual and/or gender identity, reflecting on such or group of persons based on perceived things as upbringing, expectations from others, characteristics, rather than empirical evidence. and inner landscape. The person may not be certain if they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or trans

Privilege and may be trying to figure out how to identify Unearned power, benefits, advantages, access themselves. and/or opportunities that provide unfair

advantage for members of the dominant Race group(s) in society. People are not always aware Culturally or socially constructed divisions of of the privileges they have. Examples include: humankind, based on distinct characteristics cissexual privilege, straight privilege, male that can be based on: physicality, culture, privilege, . , beliefs and practices, language, origin, etc. is prohibited

Queer within Canada as part of the Canadian Human Formerly derogatory slang term used to identify Rights Act, and the United Nations has a LGBT people. Some members of the LGBT committee devoted to the elimination of racial community have embraced and reinvented this discrimination. term as a positive and proud political identifier when speaking among and about themselves.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 17 of 21 Sex Social Determinants of Health The classification of people as male, female Things that are needed for people to avoid or intersex. Sex is usually assigned at birth illness and to be physically, mentally and socially and is based on an assessment of a person’s healthy (e.g. income, employment, housing, reproductive systems, hormones, chromosomes access to services). and other physical characteristics.

Social Justice Sexual Orientation A concept based on a vision of society in The direction of one’s sexual interest or which the distribution of resources is equitable attraction. It is a personal characteristic that and individuals and groups are given equal forms part of who you are. It covers the range opportunity, fairness, , and of human sexuality from lesbian and gay, to participation in the rights, freedoms and bisexual and straight. responsibilities valued by society.

Sex-Positive An attitude that promotes and embraces the diversity of human sexuality, focusing on; advocating for a consent oriented culture, safe sex awareness, and comprehensive sex education that incorporates unbiased methods in its approach.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 18 of 21 Stealth Stigma When a trans person is not “out” about being Severe social disapproval or discontentment trans in their social circles (with friends, with a person or group on the grounds of employers, colleagues). There are many their particular circumstance, usually based on different levels of being stealth, but in some differences from social or cultural norms. cases a trans person may need to end contact

with those who once knew them as their Straight assigned at birth sex, move to new locations, or A person who has romantic or sexual attractions get a new job. These changes are significant, to people of another gender. and may be due to personal reasons or based

on physical, cognitive and/or emotional safety. Tokenism The practice of making a symbolic effort

Stereotype towards involving an underrepresented group Overly simplistic, or unfounded assumptions of individuals under the guise of inclusivity or judgments about a group of people that or equality, and is often seen within a group, disregard individual differences among committee, organization, or workplace. The group members and emphasize negative action itself or the type of involvement of the preconceptions that characterize all members of underrepresented is limited, and the false a group as being the same. appearance of inclusivity or equality can then be used to promote a false appearance that hides deeper systemic issues within the organization.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 19 of 21 Trans/Transgender identity. This may include changes to their Umbrella terms that describe people with name, sex designation, dress, the use of specific diverse gender identities and gender pronouns, and possibly medically supportive expressions that do not conform to stereotypical treatments such as hormone therapy, sex- ideas about what it means to be a girl/woman reassignment surgery or other procedures. or boy/man in society. “Trans” can mean There is no checklist or average time for a transcending beyond, existing between, or transition process, and no universal goal or crossing over the gender spectrum. It includes endpoint. Each person will decide what meets but is not limited to people who identify as their needs. transgender, transsexual, cross-dressers or

gender non-conforming (gender variant or Trans Man (FTM)/ Trans Woman (MTF) gender-queer). A person whose sex assigned at birth is “female” and identifies as a man may also identify as a Trans identities include people whose gender trans man (female-to-male, or FTM). A person identity is different from the gender associated whose sex assigned at birth is “male” and with their birth-assigned sex. Trans people identifies as a woman may also identify as a may or may not undergo medically sup­portive trans woman (male-to-female, or MTF). treatments, such as hormone therapy and a

range of surgical procedures, to align their Transmisogyny bodies with their internally felt gender identity. Negative attitudes, expressed through cultural hate, individual and state violence, and

Transition discrimination directed toward trans women Refers to a host of activities that some trans and trans and gender non-conforming people people may pursue to affirm their gender on the feminine end of the gender spectrum.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 20 of 21 Transphobia and spiritual role that certain people played Negative attitudes and feelings and the aversion within traditional societies; they were often to, fear or hatred or intolerance of trans people mediators, keepers of certain ceremonies; they and communities. Like other prejudices, it is transcended accepted roles of men and women, based on stereotypes and misconceptions that and filled a role as an established middle are used to justify discrimination, harassment gender. and violence toward trans people, or those

perceived to be trans. WSW A woman who has sex with women.

Transsexual A person whose gender identity differs from Ze/Hir their sex assigned at birth. They may or may Alternate pronouns that are gender neutral not undergo medically supportive treatments and preferred by some gender variant persons. to align their bodies with their gender identity, Pronounced /zee/ and /here,/ they replace such as hormone therapy, sex reassignment “he”/”she”and “his”/”hers” respectively. surgery or other procedures or changes.

Two–Spirit A term used by Indigenous People to describe from a cultural perspective people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, or intersex. It is used to capture a concept that exists in many different Indigenous cultures and languages. For some, the term two-spirit describes a societal

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Glossary of Terms 21 of 21