The continuous dialogue of belonging continues to grow. This leads to a need for understanding common belonging terms. Oftentimes, some words can have different meanings based on people’s experiences and upbringing. This is why having a glossary of terms relating to belonging is so important. While this glossary isn’t comprehensive, it is meant to be a starting point for learning. The following guide provides key terms that are frequently used in important dialogues about belonging. We hope that this resource helps you to engage in productive discussions about these important topics.

AAPI
Acronym to represent Asian American & Pacific Islanders. This describes all people who identify as Asian, Asian-American, or Pacific Islander.

Acculturation
This is the process of learning and implementing the beliefs, behaviors, and language that make up a culture. This should not be confused with assimilation (see definition). With acculturation, someone will adopt new ways of living while still embracing their culture.

Advocate
This describes someone who speaks up for themselves or others who are being discriminated against.

Affirmative Action
Policies or programs that focus on developing better opportunities for groups like minorities or women.

African American
Someone who has African ancestry and lives in the United States.

Ageism
Discriminatory or prejudiced thoughts and actions based on age, either younger or older.

Ally
A person isn’t part of a disadvantaged or marginalized group but actively supports and advocates for their rights and well-being.

Arab
People who identify with the Arab ethnicity or culture. They can be found all over the world, not just in the Middle East.

Assimilation
A process in which individuals from a minority group adopt the cultural norms, values and practices of the majority culture, often resulting in the loss of their own cultural identity.

Belonging
A sense of acceptance, inclusion, and value experienced by people within a particular group or community, regardless of their background or identity.

Bias
Prejudice favors for or against something, someone, or a specific group in an unfair way.

Biracial
Someone who identifies whose biological parents come from two different races.

BIPoC
This acronym stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and is based on recognizing the experiences of systemic racism that assert hardships on these minority groups.

Black
Any population that identifies as Black, including those from Africa, regardless of where they originate geographically. This is a broad term to describe people with different cultural backgrounds.

Colorism
Discrimination against someone for having darker skin.

Conscious Bias (Explicit bias)
The beliefs or attitudes that someone holds consciously.

Culture
A set of norms, values, and beliefs that influence how people live.

Cultural Appropriation
The adoption, use or exploitation of parts from another culture, often without understanding or respecting its significance, and typically perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

Cultural Identity
The feeling of belonging to a group based on your religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, or any other social group.

Discrimination
Actions that are based on either conscious or unconscious bias that favor one group over another.

Equity
Ensures fair treatment and advancement for all people while removing any barriers that have prevented all marginalized groups from participating.

Ethnicity
An identity based on the culture, nation, language, or region of origin where people share the same beliefs, customs, and sometimes the same religion too.

Equality
This means that resources are equally accessible to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, etc.

Harassment
Behavior that is intended to intimate or humiliate someone.

Hispanic
This describes the cultures, people, and all the descendants of Spanish-Speaking countries. This includes Spain and many Latin American countries.

Inclusion
The deliberate and active practice of creating environments where everyone is welcomed, respected, and encouraged to participate fully, regardless of their differences.

Indigenous Peoples
This refers to ethnic groups who were known as some of the earliest inhabitants of an area. In the United States, this refers to Native Americans. In Canada, this refers to the First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

Institutional Racism
The biased or unfair practices and/or policies that create different life outcomes for different races or ethnicities.

Intersectionality
This is the recognition that everyone has their own experiences with racism, discrimination, or oppression. It is the understanding that anything can be used to marginalize people, including race, class, sexual orientation, gender, mental illness, or even physical ability.

Islamic
Anything pertaining to the religion of Islam and any beliefs or practices associated with it.

Latinx
A nonbinary gender-neutral term referring to a person of Latin American descent or origin. This is a gender-neutral version of either Latina or Latino.

Marginalization
The process where certain individuals or groups are pushed to the edges of society, having less power, representation, and access to resources.

Microaggression
Brief and subtle actions, often unintentional, that convey derogatory or negative messages to individuals based on their race, gender, ethnicity, or other aspects of identity.

Micro Affirmation
A sign that shows kindness including providing support, valuing their contributions, or simply being an ally to the cause.

Middle Eastern
Relating to the geographic region in Southwest Asia and parts of North Africa that includes countries like Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and others.

Minority Group
Any group of people who are targeted in society through unfair treatment and are subject to discrimination.

Multiracial
Someone who identifies as having two or more races. Biracial is another term to describe someone who identifies as having two or more races. This can also mean three races.

Muslim
This can be used as both a noun and adjective to describe those who follow the religion of Islam.

Native American
People who identify with the Indigenous People of the United States. This term isn’t universally embraced because of the negativity associated with colonial history.

Oppression
The ongoing mistreatment and discrimination of individuals or groups, caused by those in positions of power and privilege.

People of Color
This collective term describes people from Hispanic, Latinx, African, Asian, and Indigenous People backgrounds with the same experience of discrimination or oppression.

Prejudice
This pre-judgment in either favor or against someone, a group of people, an idea, or an event is based on discrimination. A negative prejudgment is usually associated with a stereotype.

Privilege
This is the advantage that comes from the oppression of minority groups. This can be seen in gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, etc.

Race
A social construct used to categorize and differentiate people based on physical characteristics such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features.

Racism
A complex system of beliefs, attitudes, and practices that perpetuate unequal power dynamics and discrimination based on race, resulting in the marginalization and disadvantage of certain racial groups.

Stereotype
A generalized belief about a specific person or a group.

Unconscious Bias (Implicit Bias)
The attitudes or stereotypes that influence behavior or decision-making in ways that are out of your control and unintentional.

Xenophobia
The fear, distrust, or dislike of people from foreign or different cultural backgrounds, often leading to prejudice and discrimination against them.