Definition of Terms
Adapted from
Some modifications to terminology were added with special thanks to Pat Tetreault
Acculturation: A mechanism of cultural change that occurs when a person, or groups of people adapt the cultural patterns of another group
Assimilation: Merging of groups and their traditions within a society that endorses a single common culture
Behavior: Any observable response given by a person
Bias: Any demeaning, derogatory, or otherwise offensive behavior directed toward an individual on the basis of sex, gender identity or expression, race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability/disability, or other group or personal characteristic may qualify as a bias incident or hostile climate action.
Bi-cultural- Having working knowledgeand experience from two cultures
Cisgender: When an individual’s sex assigned at birth corresponds to their gender identity. The term is used to describe individuals who are not included under the Trans umbrella (which includes transgender, transsexual, crossdressers, drag performers, intersex, and gender variant/queer).
Communication: The transmission of common understanding through the use of symbols. The term communication is derived from a Latin word that means “common”. In other words, unless a common understanding results from the transmission of the symbol (verbal or nonverbal) there is no communication.
Culture: A way of life—traditions and customs—transmitted through learning, which play a vital role in molding the beliefs and behaviors of the people exposed to them
Cultural Ally: A person who shares diversity-supporting values and actions with others, whether they are present of not. Being a cultural ally is an ongoing strategic process in which we look at our personal and social resources, evaluate the environment we have helped to create, and decide what needs to be done
Cultural Generalities: The similarities that occur in many but not all cultures
Cultural Group: People who identify or associate with one another on the basis of some common purpose, need, or similarity of background
Cultural Relativism: The view that behavior in one culture should not be judged by the standards of another. The belief that all cultures are equal, have intrinsic value, are equally entitled to respect, and should be appreciated for their differences
Culture Shock: A series of stages a person may go through when they move from a familiar environment to an unfamiliar one. The person may not know what is wrong but s/he knows they aren't happy. Feelings experienced during these stages can influence perceptions and reactions to new situations.
Cultural trait: An individual item in a culture, such as a particular belief, tool, or practice
Disadvantaged: Those having inferior power and less secure access to resources than do privileged groups, which are dominant or controlling
Discrimination: Refers to policies and practices that harm a group and its members
Diversity: The condition of being or having differences
Dominant Culture: Values and customs of a group that strive to set the standards for cultural correctness
Enculturation: The social process by which culture is learned and transmitted across the generations
Ethnic Group: Group distinguished by cultural similarities such as beliefs, values, habits, customs, language, religion, history, geography, kinship, or race. Members share a consciousness, psychological history, and interdependence of fate with others in the group.
Ethnicity: A group of people within a larger society having real or accepted common ancestry, memories of a shared historical past, and a cultural focus on one or more symbolic elements, which help to define them as people
Ethnocentrism: The tendency to use one’s own cultural standards and values to judge the behavior and beliefs of people with different cultures
Gender: The social construction of masculinity and femininity as it aligns with the designated sex at birth in a specific culture and time period. Gender identity claims individuality that may or may not be expressed outwardly, and may or may not correspond to one’s sexual anatomy.
Gender Variant/Queer: People who find other gender categories constraining. Their gender identities and/or expression is consciously not consistent with conventional standards for masculine or feminine behavior or appearance. Some identify as a blend, as androgynous, gender fluid, or as neither gender (agender).
Intersex: A socially constructed category that reflects real biological variation in reproductive, sexual, or hormonal anatomy. Though usually thought of as an inborn condition, intersex anatomy does not always show up at birth.
Monocultural- Having working knowledge and experience in one culture
Multicutural- Having working knowledge and experience in more than one culture
Myth: A story or saying whose function is to bind together the thoughts of a group
Some myths are based on powerful truths; some on hurtful lies that have the purpose of manipulating others
Pluralism- Equal treatment and respect for more than one culture or ethnicity. The diversity courses and a multicultural emphasis is based on this. There is both structural pluralism and cultural pluralism. The extremes of pluralism are a complete melting pot versus complete pluralism.
Pop Culture: Culture that embraces the way we entertain ourselves, the products we consume, contemporary behaviors and beliefs
Prejudice: A preconceived opinion that is not based on actual experience or reason.
Queer- A term reclaimed by activists and has sometimes been used as an umbrella term for LGBT individuals; some individuals also identify as queer. Not all members of the LGBTQA community embrace this word because it has been used as a derogatory term. Context is important when using the word queer.
Race: Term commonly used to refer to major subdivisions of the human family, distinguished by form of hair, color of skin and eyes, stature, bodily proportions, etc. This social category differs by time, regionally, and contextually. There is no biological meaning, and no real clear-cut racial differences.
Racism: A belief that some groups are inherently inferior to others, and therefore should be dominated by others; presumably inherently superior groups. Racism can be individual; institutional; or cultural. Forms of racism can be old-fashioned or modern.
Sex: The medical assignment of ‘male’ or ‘female’ at birth based on external genitalia that an individual possesses at birth. The biological sexes are often seen as binary and opposite and mutually exclusive. It is often believed that a person’s assigned sex dictates their gender expression, chromosomal and hormonal make-up (e.g., those born with male genitalia should behave in a masculine way and those born with female genitalia should behave in a feminine way).
Sexual Identity: A person’s self-description of the romantic, sexual and/or emotional relationships with another or others such as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, etc. Much like gender identifications, sexual identity labels are constantly being created to both unite communities and divide members from others. Sexual identity is often referred to as sexual orientation.
Sexual Orientation: The attraction and desire for intimate emotional, romantic, and sexual relationships with persons of the same gender/sex, another gender or sex, or more than one gender/sex.
Social Justice: Social justice can be seen as both a process and a goal. The goal of social justice education is full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society that is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure."
Reference: Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice: A Sourcebook. Edited by Maurianne Adams, Lee Anne Bell, and Pat Griffin
Socioeconomic status: Position or rank in society that is based on social and economic factors
Status: A broad term that speaks to where someone fits in society. People always occupy multiple statuses. Ascribed status is one that people have little or no choice about, such as age, race and ethnicity. Achieved status is one that isn’t automatic but come through traits, talents, actions, efforts, activities, and accomplishment
Stereotype: Fixed ideas, often unfavorable, about what members of a group are like
Subcultures: Diverse cultural patterns and traditions associated with subgroups in the same nation
Transgender:Transgender can be an identity as well as an umbrella term for someone whose self-identification, anatomy, appearance, manner, expression, behavior and/or others’ perceptions challenge traditional societal expectations of congruent gender expression and designated birth sex. Transgender can be conceived as a person who blurs the boundaries between traditional masculinity and femininity.
Trans*: An umbrella term that refers to all transgender identities. The asterisk is there to acknowledge the existence of non-binary identities.
Transsexual: Individuals whose sex assigned at birth does not match their personal sex/ body identity and who, through sex alignment (reassignment) surgery and/or hormone therapy may seek to change their physical appearance to match their gender identity. Transexuals can be male-to-female (M2F) or female to male (F2M). Transexuals sexual identity can be heterosexual, gay, lesbian, etc.
White Privilege: Unearned assets or advantages that are given to white people merely because they are white and part of the dominate culture