Stereotype – a simplified and generalized (and therefore inaccurate) way of thinking about individuals who belong to a particular social group, often rooted in historical or cultural assumptions. Viewing social groups through the lens of stereotypes prevents individual understanding and is harmful

Prejudice – a negative, strong, hostile attitude towards a person or group of people, usually based on stereotypes. Prejudice can lead to discrimination and aggression. Common forms of prejudice include:

• Ableism – discrimination against people with disabilities
• Ageism – discrimination based on age
• Heterosexism – the assumption that everyone should be heterosexual, often resulting in unequal treatment or discrimination against people of different sexual orientations
• Homophobia, transphobia, interphobia, enbyphobia, biphobia – unfounded fear that leads to discrimination against homosexual, transgender, intersex, nonbinary, or bisexual people
• Classism – discrimination based on socioeconomic status
• Xenophobia – an unjustified, irrational fear or hostility toward people from other countries or cultures, stemming from ignorance and a lack of experience with these groups
• Racism – discrimination based on race; belief in the superiority of one race over another
• Sexism – discrimination based on sex or gender

Microaggressions – subtle, often unintentional, verbal or non-verbal expressions of bias or prejudice; although they may seem minor, when experienced frequently, they can lead to a sense of exclusion

Social inclusion – the process of integrating minority groups into social life

Social exclusion – the marginalization or exclusion of minority groups from society

Privileged group (in the context of inequality) – individuals who, because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, social status, ethnicity, religion, or other social characteristics, belong to a group considered “normative.” Being part of a privileged group doesn’t mean one possesses special advantages; rather, it means they are not subject to common forms of discrimination. Privilege can manifest in education, employment, healthcare, or the legal system, and often stems from historical inequality, stereotypes, or systemic biases

Empowerment – supporting and strengthening minority groups or individuals

Gender mainstreaming – strategic efforts to incorporate gender equality into all areas and levels of an institution

Feminism – a political, legal, cultural, and social movement that recognizes that women are discriminated against based on gender and seeks to achieve gender equality

Feminatives – gendered forms of nouns used to denote female roles, professions, or titles (e.g., “chairman” – “chairwoman,” “businessman” – “businesswoman”). Their goal is to highlight the presence of women in various areas of professional and social life and draw attention to gender equality in language

Intersectionality – a scholarly concept and analytical tool for understanding how individuals may experience multiple, overlapping forms of discrimination. For example, a black woman may experience discrimination based on both race and gender, and that experience will differ from the discrimination faced by a white woman

Sex (biological) – a set of characteristics used to classify individuals as male or female (based on the belief in a binary division of sex)

Gender – the set of societal and cultural expectations, roles, and characteristics associated with being male or female

LGBTQIAP – lesbians, gay people, bisexual people, transgender people, queer individuals, intersex people, asexual and aromantic individuals, and pansexual people

Gender identity – an individual’s internal sense of belonging to a particular gender. Not everyone identifies with the sex assigned to them at birth

Gender expression – the outward expression of one’s gender identity, for example through clothing, appearance, or gestures

Gender dysphoria – distress experienced when one’s assigned sex at birth does not align with their gender identity

Gender transition – the medical and/or legal process of changing one's gender from the one assigned at birth to the one a person identifies with

Heteronormativity – the belief that heterosexuality is the default or “normal” sexual orientation, leading to the marginalization of other sexual orientations

Non-heteronormative person – someone who does not define their sexual orientation within the socially accepted heterosexual norm and/or whose gender identity differs from the one assigned at birth

Cisgender person – someone whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth

Nonbinary person – someone whose gender identity does not conform to the traditional male/female binary identity

Intersex person – a person born with a variety of biological sex characteristics, such as differences in external or internal reproductive anatomy, chromosomes, or hormone levels, that do not fit typical definitions of male or female bodies

Transgender person – someone whose gender identity does not match the sex assigned at birth (they may identify as a woman, a man, or a nonbinary person)

Transsexual person – someone who identifies as the opposite gender from the one assigned at birth (e.g., a man assigned female at birth)

Queer person – a broad term for individuals whose gender identity and/or sexual orientation differ from what is considered to be a societal “norm” (an umbrella term often used by members of the LGBTQIAP community)

Sexual orientation – the gender(s) a person is romantically or sexually attracted to

Psychosexual orientation – similar to sexual orientation, but also includes emotional and psychological aspects of attraction, not just sexual desire

Coming out (coming out of the closet) – the act of disclosing one’s sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, or another identity that places the person in a minority group