One of our goals is to help make ideas and language of social justice more accessible. This glossary exists to clarify certain ideas or histories used in AFO. Feel free to reference this page, submit a new definition, or ask for a clarification if we missed something important.
We will continue to add terms as our publication grows.
We will continue to add terms as our publication grows.
Cisgender "is a word used to describe people who are not transgender; likewise, cissexual describes the non-transsexual. This word is a simple opposite, formed by using the prefix "cis" (on the same side/not "across") as opposed to "trans" (across/beyond)" (definition from transwhat.org glossary).
Dialect:
1. a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, and by its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.
2. a provincial, rural, or socially distinct variety of a language that differs from the standard language, especially when considered as substandard.
3. a special variety of a language:
The literary dialect is usually taken as the standard language.
4. a language considered as one of a group that have a common ancestor:
Persian, Latin, and English are Indo-European dialects.
(dictionary.com)
1. a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, and by its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.
2. a provincial, rural, or socially distinct variety of a language that differs from the standard language, especially when considered as substandard.
3. a special variety of a language:
The literary dialect is usually taken as the standard language.
4. a language considered as one of a group that have a common ancestor:
Persian, Latin, and English are Indo-European dialects.
(dictionary.com)
Erasure is the act of erasing histories, culture, or identities.
Feminism:
1. The theory of political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.
2. Organized activity on behalf of women and women's interests.
There is some debate about whether or not feminism is the same thing as the struggle for equality of the sexes. It is sometimes about equality, but feminism is also often about more than a struggle for equality. It is also the struggle to end sexist oppression. It is also the outcome of women (from any expression) getting together to reimagine their own definition of themselves (like body-love activists). It is also about reimagining the social limitations connected to gender roles, in the words of this feminist, "I don't want what men have, that would be equality. I want the freedom to keep reimagining."
Also, it is important to consider perspectives like womanism, maternalism, Spiritual Feminism, Ecofeminism, Socialist Feminist and other feminist ideology that led to specific political action.
1. The theory of political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.
2. Organized activity on behalf of women and women's interests.
There is some debate about whether or not feminism is the same thing as the struggle for equality of the sexes. It is sometimes about equality, but feminism is also often about more than a struggle for equality. It is also the struggle to end sexist oppression. It is also the outcome of women (from any expression) getting together to reimagine their own definition of themselves (like body-love activists). It is also about reimagining the social limitations connected to gender roles, in the words of this feminist, "I don't want what men have, that would be equality. I want the freedom to keep reimagining."
Also, it is important to consider perspectives like womanism, maternalism, Spiritual Feminism, Ecofeminism, Socialist Feminist and other feminist ideology that led to specific political action.
Feminist is a self identified label of someone who believes in feminism (see above).
First Wave Feminism "refers to a period of feminist activity during the 19th and early 20th century throughout the world, particularly in the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States. It focused on legal issues, primarily on gaining [white] women's suffrage (the right to vote)" (Wikipedia).
Gender "refers to the sociological set of boundaries and signifiers that may define people as being feminine, masculine, or androgynous. When you look at someone and decide that she's a girl, based on her appearance, behavior, and presentation of self, you're judging her gender, not her sex" (transwhat.org).
Gender Binary "is a very common system of thought, referring to certain ideas that many people hold about gender and sex. The gender binary is not correct. It presumes that everyone is either male or female (not so!), and it implies that trans people flat-out do not exist. It is based on the following three principles:
1. There are two genders: man and woman.
2. Every human is either a man/boy or a woman/girl.
3. Humans born with XY chromosomes, penises, testicles, etc. are always men; humans with XX chromosomes, vaginas, ovaries, etc. are always women.
More accurately, it could instead be said that:
1. There are many genders; man and woman are, as it happens, the two most common.
2. Not all humans are either men/boys or women/girls. Lots are, some aren't.
3. Gender and physical sex have a complex relationship to one another, and being born with a certain body doesn't guarantee a certain identity. The majority of men were assigned at birth as "male," and women assigned as "female." The human population varies widely, however, and the former statement is certainly not infallible" (transwhat.org).
1. There are two genders: man and woman.
2. Every human is either a man/boy or a woman/girl.
3. Humans born with XY chromosomes, penises, testicles, etc. are always men; humans with XX chromosomes, vaginas, ovaries, etc. are always women.
More accurately, it could instead be said that:
1. There are many genders; man and woman are, as it happens, the two most common.
2. Not all humans are either men/boys or women/girls. Lots are, some aren't.
3. Gender and physical sex have a complex relationship to one another, and being born with a certain body doesn't guarantee a certain identity. The majority of men were assigned at birth as "male," and women assigned as "female." The human population varies widely, however, and the former statement is certainly not infallible" (transwhat.org).
Genderqueer "is an identity taken on by a variety of people who feel that, in some way, the very substance of their genders lies outside the gender binary's two labels of 'male' and 'female'" (transwhat.org).
Gender Identity "describes the psychological recognition of oneself as being a member of a certain gender. Gender identity is determined by a person's internal perceptions; it is separate from physical sex, which is an absolute that's determined before birth" (transwhat.org).
Heteronormativity is the belief that heterosexual orientation is the only normal/natural type of relationship and that men and women naturally fall into the gendered roles of masculine and feminine. Family ideals in the 1950's were very heteronormative, with a feminine, stay-at-home mother and a masculine, bread-winning father.
Homonormativity is the assimilation of heteronormative values and ideals into homosexual culture. For instance, the expectation of monogamy, gender binaries, and procreation. An example of homonormativity would the assumption that there is always a masculine and feminine person within a same-sex relationship and that all gay people want to get married or have children.
Institutional Oppression is the systematic mistreatment of people within a social identity group, supported and enforced by the society and its institutions... Institutional oppression occurs when established laws, customs, and practices systematically reflect and produce inequalities based on one's membership in targeted social identity groups. Institutional oppression creates a system of invisible barriers limiting people based on their membership in unfavored social identity groups. The barriers are only invisible to those 'seemingly' unaffected by it. The practice of institutionalized oppression is based on the belief in inherent superiority or inferiority" (Institutionalized Oppression Definitions, PCC.edu).
Intersectionality was "originally articulated on behalf of black women, the term brought to light the invisibility of many constituents within groups that claim them as members, but often fail to represent them. Intersectional erasures are not exclusive to black women. People of color within LGBTQ movements; girls of color in the fight against the school-to-prison pipeline; women within immigration movements; trans women within feminist movements; and people with disabilities fighting police abuse — all face vulnerabilities that reflect the intersections of racism, sexism, class oppression, transphobia, able-ism and more. Intersectionality has given many advocates a way to frame their circumstances and to fight for their visibility and inclusion." (Kimberlé Crenshaw). For example, the first and second wave of feminism said to include all women, but left out many women of color, queer women, and transwomen.
Intersex refers to a person who has ambiguous genitalia (not exclusively male or female).
The Male Gaze is idea that everything women do should be for the pleasure of men. How women dress, do their hair, and move through space should be only for the pleasure and attention of men. It is also the idea that a man’s approval and sexual attention is the only way for women to have power.
Maternalism is political movment based on the understanding that most women are, at one point of their lives, mothers and primary caregivers. This ideaology emphasizes the power and influence of motherhood and the rights of mothers over their own children, particularly for education.
Misogyny is hatred, mistrust, or prejudice against women.
The Patriarchy is a widely accepted social structure that gives men dominance over women, including, but not limited to the transfer of power from fathers to son, or the lack of female leadership (by exclusion) throughout many government organizations.
POC is the acronym for Person of Color, People of Color.
Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) "Describes the overlapping interests of government and industry that use surveillance, policing, and imprisonment as solutions to economic, social and political problems" (Critical Resistance).
Privilege "is a set of unearned benefits given to people who fit into a specific social group.
Society grants privilege to people because of certain aspects of their identity. Aspects of a person’s identity can include race, class, gender, sexual orientation, language, geographical location, ability, and religion, to name a few.
Society is affected by a number of different power systems: patriarchy, white supremacy, heterosexism, cissexism, and classism — to name a few. These systems interact together in one giant system called the kyriarchy.
Privileged groups have power over oppressed groups. Privileged people are more likely to be in positions of power – for example, they’re more likely to dominate politics, be economically well-off, have influence over the media, and hold executive positions in companies. Privileged people can use their positions to benefit people like themselves – in other words, other privileged people" (definition from Sian Ferguson, Everyday Feminism, Privilege 101).
Society grants privilege to people because of certain aspects of their identity. Aspects of a person’s identity can include race, class, gender, sexual orientation, language, geographical location, ability, and religion, to name a few.
Society is affected by a number of different power systems: patriarchy, white supremacy, heterosexism, cissexism, and classism — to name a few. These systems interact together in one giant system called the kyriarchy.
Privileged groups have power over oppressed groups. Privileged people are more likely to be in positions of power – for example, they’re more likely to dominate politics, be economically well-off, have influence over the media, and hold executive positions in companies. Privileged people can use their positions to benefit people like themselves – in other words, other privileged people" (definition from Sian Ferguson, Everyday Feminism, Privilege 101).
Queer:
- Queer (adj.): attracted to people of many genders
Although dominant culture tends to dictate that there are only two genders, gender is actually far more complex. Queer can be a label claimed by a person who is attracted to men, women, genderqueer people, and/or other gender nonconforming people. - Queer (adj.): not fitting cultural norms around sexuality and/or gender identity/expression
Similarly to the above, queer can be a label claimed by a person who feels that they personally don’t fit into dominant norms, due to their own gender identity/expression, their sexual practices, their relationship style, etc. - Queer (adj.): non-heterosexual
Queer is sometimes used as an umbrella term to refer to all people with non-heterosexual sexual orientations or all people who are marginalized on the basis of sexual orientation. - Queer (adj.): transgressive, revolutionary, anti-assimilation, challenging of the status quo
Many people claim the label queer as a badge of honor that has a radical, political edge. UU seminarian Elizabeth Nguyen has preached: “Queer, for many folks, is about resistance—resisting dominant culture’s ideas of ‘normal,’ rejoicing in transgression, celebrating the margins, reveling in difference, blessing ourselves.” - Queer (n.): an epithet or slur for someone perceived to be gay or lesbian
Queer is still sometimes used as a derogatory term. Many people who have had the word queer used against them are understandably very uncomfortable with the word.
QTPOC is the acronym for Queer &/or Trans People of Color
Second Wave Feminism "is a period of feminist activity that first began in the early 1960s in the United States, and eventually spread throughout the Western world and beyond. In the United States the movement lasted through the early 1980s. Second Wave Feminism broadened the debate to a wide range of issues: sexuality, family, the workplace, reproductive rights, de facto inequalities, and official legal inequalities" (Wikipedia).
School to Prison Pipeline: "a disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Many of these children have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse, or neglect, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services. Instead, they are isolated, punished, and pushed out.
Zero-tolerance' policies criminalize minor infractions of school rules, while cops in schools lead to students being criminalized for behavior that should be handled inside the school. Students of color are especially vulnerable to push-out trends and the discriminatory application of discipline" (ACLU).
Zero-tolerance' policies criminalize minor infractions of school rules, while cops in schools lead to students being criminalized for behavior that should be handled inside the school. Students of color are especially vulnerable to push-out trends and the discriminatory application of discipline" (ACLU).
Race "is a social construct that artificially divides people into distinct groups based on characteristics such as physical appearance (particularly color), ancestral heritage, cultural affiliation, cultural history, ethnic classification, and the social, economic and political needs of a society at a given period of time. Racial categories subsume ethnic groups" (Racial Equality Resource Guide, America Healing).
Racism, "as minorities experience it and as it is understood in most social justice circles is a systematic kind of oppression (see definition below). When we use racism as a term in social justice conversations, it is impossible to be racist against white people (at least in the US). Racism as minorities experience it is the lack of privilege that every minority person has by dint of being a minority. White people as a whole are born into this world with privileges: they are considered more trustworthy, they are far more likely to have connections and money, they are more likely to be born into a better neighborhood, teachers treat them differently, they are not affected by stereotype threat, and their families have not had to struggle to get out of the poverty caused by slavery. Racism is all of those entrenched things that make it easier for whites than for anyone other race in our society" (Social Justice 101: Racism).
Rape Culture was coined by feminists in the United States in the 1970’s. It was designed to show the ways in which society blamed victims of sexual assault and normalized male sexual violence" (Women Against Violence Against Women).
Sex refers to biological physical parts that makes a creature male or female.
Sexism "is both discrimination based on gender and the attitudes, stereotypes, and the cultural elements that promote this discrimination. Given the historical and continued imbalance of power, where men as a class are privileged over women as a class, an important, but often overlooked, part of the term is that sexism is prejudice plus power. Thus feminists reject the notion that women can be sexist towards men because women lack the institutional power that men have" (Finally, A Feminism 101 Blog).
Sexual Orientation refers to sexual attraction. Some people use this term to also talk about romantic attraction.
Third Wave Feminism
Transgender "is an umbrella word that refers to all the folks who, more or less, either
1. Do not identify with the genders assigned to them at birth, either wholly or partially;
2. Consider themselves members of their birth-assigned genders, but who also state that their identities are strongly and consistently gender-variant (that is, radically different from what is expected of a 'man' or 'woman')" (transwhat.org).
1. Do not identify with the genders assigned to them at birth, either wholly or partially;
2. Consider themselves members of their birth-assigned genders, but who also state that their identities are strongly and consistently gender-variant (that is, radically different from what is expected of a 'man' or 'woman')" (transwhat.org).
Trigger Warning is warning label for people who have a history of trauma surrounding a certain topic and may want to avoid reading about it. Examples of Trigger Warnings: child abuse, gun violence, rape, etc.
The White Gaze in an ideology (similar to The Male Gaze) that everything People of Color do should be for the comfortability and safety of White people. When activist Marissa Janae Johnson took the stage at a Bernie Sanders rally in Seattle, WA (8/8/15) and confronted many White, Moderate Liberals about Black Lives Matter (BLM) and their White Silence, many people in the audience felt this was not the way to get White people on the side of BLM. In an interview Johnson responded with “I don’t give a fuck about The White Gaze and I never have.”
White Silence "is experienced by members of the White culture who, during discussions of racial tension, experience emotions ranging from shame and guilt to anger and despair. When these feelings are not addressed, White students begin to resist talking about certain topics such as race and privilege. This resistance is called White silence" (Tatum, 1992).
WOC is the acronym for Woman of Color, Women of Color.
Womanism "was coined by the illustrious Alice Walker (author of one of my favorite books The Color Purple) as a way to prioritize black women's’ experiences when developing a framework for theory and activism. It is an opportunity to define ourselves, and not be defined by the experiences of white feminists (mostly as an afterthought, anyway). Womanism gives us the opportunity to be the center of discourse and have scholars and activists mobilize around our own unique experiences. Womanism is revolutionary: In a society where black women’s livelihoods are under constant attack and scrutiny and where black men take precedence in black social movements, a movement that’s all about us is necessary" (Jenika McCrayer).
