Glossary of DEI Terms
Accountability : An obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for one ’ s actions and their outcome , regardless of intent
Belonging : The feeling of being a treated like an equally valued member of a larger community
BIPOC : Black , Indigenous , People of Color ; an umbrella term for all minorities used to convey the disproportionate impact of inequality on Black ( African American ) and Indigenous ( Native- American ) people
Cultural humility : A practice consisting of lifelong reflection on ones ’ personal beliefs and identity , awareness of inequity and power imbalances , and willingness to learn about individuals ’ cultural differences without stereotyping the group at large
HBCU / HSI : Historically Black College / University and Hispanic-Serving Institution
• Example : Howard University would be a HBCU , University of the Incarnate Word would be a HIS .
Intersectionality : The way in which the cumulative effects of multiple forms of discrimination ( i . e ., racism , sexism , classism , etc .) overlap in the experience of people who identify with more than one minority group
• Example : A black man who identifies as gay would have 2 intersecting identities , whereas a black woman who identifies as lesbian would have 3 .
Inclusion : The act of authentically including people who have historically been excluded from groups or spaces and valuing their contributions
Diversity : The inclusion of people of different races / ethnicities , genders / sexes , cultures , sexual orientations , abilities , etc . in a group or organization
Equity : Giving fair and justice treatment to all while acknowledging that some people start in a more disadvantaged spot and may need more resources
• Example : Equality is giving a toddler and an adult man the same pair of sandals in the same size ; equity would be giving them both the same pair of sandals in their own respective sizes .
First-generation college student : A college student who has parents who did not finish a 4-year college / university degree
Gender affirming surgery : A surgical procedure that a transgender or nonbinary person may undergo to obtain physical characteristics that match his / her gender identity
LGBTQIA +: Acronym referencing non-heterosexual and / or non-cisgender identities meaning lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender , queer , intersex , asexual , etc Microaggression : A comment or action that subtly , and often unintentionally , expresses a prejudiced attitude towards a member of a marginalized group Example : Saying to an Asian-American , “ Your English is great . Where are you from ?”
Marginalized : Refers to groups of people that don ’ t make up the majority demographic of a society ; interchangeable with minority
• Example : Hispanic or Latinx people in America would be considered a marginalized group .
Neurodiversity : The concept that differences in brain functioning within the human population is normal and should not be stigmatized
• Example : people with neurodevelopmental disorders like autism or ADHD are considered neurodivergent .
Oppression : The use of power by a larger organization , institution , or ideological / cultural group to burden a less powerful group
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