Key Terms 1 - Human Diversity

ableism

the assumption that people who are able-bodied and those of sound mind are physically or developmentally superior to those who aren't

ageism

the assumption that members of one age group are superior to those of others

agnostic

doesn't know if it is possible to know if there is a God or not

assimilation

process by which people of diverse backgrounds slowly give up their original cultural language and identity and melt into another, usually larger group

atheist

doesn't believe in God

baby boomer

1946-1964; 21% of population

bias

prejudice; thinking negatively of others without any or significant justification; generally a combination of stereotyped beliefs and negative attitudes

biculturalism

being able to negotiate two or more different cultures competently, individual and mainstream

bisexual

being attracted to both genders

cisgender

identifying with the gender assigned a birth

cross-cultural / multicultural

multiple cultures existing in an area

cultural

of or relating to culture

cultural competency

possessing a set of attitudes, behaviors, and policies that come together in system to enable effective interactions

cultures

all of the socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thoughts by particular classes, communities, or populations

dead name

name assigned at birth

discrimination

actions involved in the unequal or prejudicial treatment of people because they belong to a certain category, group or race. May also include disability, ethnicity, and sexual orientation

diverse

differing from one another; made up of distinct characteristic, qualities or elements

diveristy

fact or quality of being diverse or different

ethnic

designating any of the basic groups or divisions of humankind or of a heterogenous population, as distinguished by customs, characteristics, language, and common history; national origin

ethnicity

ethnic affiliation or classification

ethnocentrism

tendency toward viewing the norms and values of the individual's own culture as absolute and using them as a standard against which all other cultures are measured

feminine prounouns

she/her/hers

gender

chromosomal designation of female or male being

gender expression

external appearance of ones gender identity

gender identity

describes the inner sense of maleness or femaleness

gender-neutral pronouns

they/them

generation x

1965-1980; 20% of population

generation Y / millenials

1981-1999; 25% of population

generation Z

2000-2010; 20% of population

glass ceiling

upper limit to professional advancement

globalization

people now cross borders into other countries for work, school, medical care, visits, etc.

greatest generation

1916-1928; 1% of population

heterosexism

assumption that everyone is/should be straight

heterosexual

being attracted to the opposite gender

homophobia

irrational fear of and hostility toward homosexuality

homosexual

being attracted to the same gender

human / cultural diversity

differences inherent among people

linguistic

cause problems with communication

masculine pronounes

he/him/his

mental and physical abilities

capacity to perform cognitive and psychomotor tasks

national origin

where a person was born

race

population that differs from other in the relative frequency of some gene or genes; any of the different varieties of humankind, distinguished by type of hair, color of eyes and skin, stature, bodily proportions, or other characteristics

racism

belief in racial superiority, leading to discrimination and prejudice toward races considered inferior

religion

belief in divine or superhuman power or powers, to be obeyed and worshipped as the creators and rules of the universe

sexism

assumption that one sex is better than the other

sexual orientation

natural preference in sexual partners

stereotype

generalized belief about a particular category of people

transgender

identify with gender different with the one assigned as birth

transgender female

born male; identifies as female

transgender male

born female; identifies as male

xennial

microgeneration 1977-1985