Module 2.2 Identity Vocabulary

Identity

1. The unique combination of characteristics, beliefs, experiences, and roles that defines who a person is.

Personal Identity

1.  How you see yourself as an individual, including your interests, goals, personality, and values.

Core Values

1. The principles that are most important to you and guide your choices, actions, and relationships.

Beliefs

1. Ideas that you accept as true or meaningful and that help shape how you view the world.

Personality

The combination of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that makes a person unique.

Physical Identity

1.  The part of identity connected to physical characteristics, abilities, and appearance.

Social Identity

1. The part of identity connected to your relationships, social roles, and membership in different groups.

Cultural Identity

Your connection to the traditions, language, customs, values, or history of a cultural group.

Ethnicity

A person’s connection to a group that shares cultural, historical, or national characteristics.

Race

A social category often based on physical traits, such as skin color. Racial categories are created by societies rather than being clear biological divisions.

Religion

An organized system of beliefs and practices that may involve faith, worship, traditions, and moral values.

Spirituality

: A personal sense of meaning or connection to something larger than yourself. It may or may not involve religion.

Tradition

A belief, activity, or custom passed from one generation to another.

Custom

A usual way of behaving or doing something within a family, group, or culture.

Role Model

A person whose behavior, qualities, or accomplishments influence or inspire others.

Identity Formation

The ongoing process of discovering and developing who you are as you grow and gain new experiences.

Expression

The ways people communicate who they are through words, art, clothing, interests, behavior, or other choices.

Belonging

Feeling accepted, valued, supported, and included within a group or community.

Stereotype

An oversimplified or unfair belief about all members of a particular group.

Bias

A preference for or against a person, group, or idea that may not be based on facts or fairness.

Respect

Valuing and treating people with dignity, including people whose identities or experiences differ from your own.

Inclusion

Creating conditions in which people feel welcomed, supported, and able to participate.

Diversity

The presence of people with different identities, backgrounds, abilities, experiences, and perspectives.

Sexual Orientation

A term describing whom a person may be emotionally, romantically, or physically attracted to.

Heterosexual or Straight

Describes someone primarily attracted to people of a different gender.

Gay

Describes someone primarily attracted to people of the same gender.

Lesbian

Commonly describes a woman who is primarily attracted to women.

Bisexual

Describes someone who may be attracted to more than one gender.

Pansexual

Describes someone whose attraction may include people of any gender.

Asexual

Describes someone who experiences little or no sexual attraction.