DIVERSITY & INCLUSION GLOSSARY
ICON DESIGN PROJECT
A self designed comprehensive glossary of 45 icons for Diversity and Inclusion terms. In a globalized world pushing for workplace diversity, it is crucial that everyone understands and uses common definitions in this new field. I have tried my best to impart this knowledge using a simplistic style which enhances readibility and enables a quick recognition of complex terminology.
Scope of work: Icon design
MOOD BOARD
DIVERSITY ICONS
ABELISM
Discrimination against physical and mental disabilities and people with disabilities.
AFFINITY BIAS
The tendency to connect with people who look and seem most like ourselves.
AGEISM
Stereotyping and discriminating against individuals on the basis of their age.
ALLYSHIP
Allyship is the use of privilege to help people from one or more marginalized groups.
ASEXUAL
Refers to a person who doesn’t experience sexual attraction. This can be shortened to Ace, an umbrella term used to describe a variation in levels of romantic and/or sexual attraction, including a lack of attraction.
BICULTURALISM
Biculturalism refers to the combination of two distinct cultures.
BIAS
Attitudes for or against a person, group or concept especially in a way considered to be unfair.
BINARY SOCIETY
The attitudes, beliefs, practices and laws in a society that assume and reinforce social norms that contend we live in a two-category gender system of men/women.
BISEXUAL
An attraction towards more than one gender. People may also describe themselves as bi, queer, and other non-monosexual identities.
BLACK
A broad term for all people with ethnic origins in the African continent.
CISGENDER OR CIS
Refers to a person whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.
COLORISM
A form of social prejudice or discrimination that typically occurs within some marginalized groups that give higher value to people with light skin and lower value to people with dark skin.
CRIMINALIZATION
The process of oppressing vulnerable groups (typically people experiencing poverty and mental health issues) by turning certain behaviors or activities into crimes.
CULTURAL COMPETENCE
Cultural competence, also known as intercultural competence, is a range of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills that lead to effective and appropriate communication with people of other cultures.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
The existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
CULTURE FIT
Alignment between an individual’s attitudes, values, behaviors, and beliefs and an organization’s core values and culture.
DISABILITY
A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them. Disabilities can be invisible.
DIVERSITY
The practice or quality of including and involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages etc.
EQUALITY
The state in which everyone is treated the same way, typically working with the assumption that everyone starts out on equal footing with equal opportunities.
EQUITY
Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
GENDER PRIVILEGE
Gender privilege usually refers to male privilege, meaning a set of unearned advantages granted to men on the basis of their gender.
GENDERQUEER OR NON-BINARY
Someone whose gender identity does not fit the gender binary of “male” and “female”. This can mean identifying as neither or both “male” and “female”, or a combination of genders (gender fluid).
HETEROSEXUAL
A person who is sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex. Also referred to as straight.
HOMOSEXUAL
Refers to a person who is sexually attracted to people of the same sex.
HOMOPHOBIA
A strong dislike or fear of homosexual people.
INCLUSION
Inclusion is the practice of including people in a way that is fair for all, values everyone, and empowers each person to be themselves.
INCLUSIVE DESIGN
The process of designing products and environments that are usable by all people (inclusive of all abilities and different characteristics or the needs different people may have) to the greatest extent possible.
IN-GROUP/OUT-GROUP BIAS
The pattern of favoring members of one’s in-group over out-group members. This can be expressed in evaluation of others, in allocation of resources, etc.
INVISIBLE DISABILITY
An umbrella term that refers to a physical, mental, or neurological disability a person can have that is not visible from the outside.
LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+/LGBTQI/LGBTQIA. The acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual or allied + other gender variants. This is the most inclusive term for diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.
MENTORING
Mentoring is a relationship between two people with the goal of professional and personal development. The “mentor” is usually an experienced individual who shares knowledge, experience, and advice with a less experienced person, or “mentee.”
MISOGYNY
Hatred, contempt, and prejudice against women.
NEURODIVERSITY
Refers to a range of differences in individual brain functions, information processing and behavioural traits. Neurodiversity encompasses autism, ADHD, dyslexia, OCD, bipolar disorder etc.
OPPRESSION
Unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power, either at an individual or systemic level.
PANSEXUAL OR PAN
Refers to a person who is attracted to all genders or is attracted to others, regardless of their gender. Bisexuality falls under the ‘pansexual’ umbrella term.
PRIDE
LGBT pride/gay pride/pride is the positive social stance against discrimination and violence towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to shame promotes the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of LGBT rights movements.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY
Interpersonal trust that makes individuals feel safe in being themselves as they won’t experience negative repercussions for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes.
RACISM
Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior. Racism is also systemic and institutional, i.e. policies and structures can lead to racist outcomes.
SOCIOECONOMIC PRIVILEGE
A set of advantages held by a person or group because of their experience and their individual or family’s social and economic status.
TRANSGENDER
Refers to a person who does not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth.
TRANSITIONING
The steps a trans person takes to live in the gender with which they identify. This could involve medical intervention, such as hormone therapy and surgeries, but not all trans people want or are able to physically transition. This is also called gender affirmation.
WHITE
Refers to the racial classification of people who have white skin and Caucasian traits. White demographically refers to people of European, North American or Australian origin.
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY
A workforce that is comprised of individuals of diverse races, ethnicities, gender, age, religion, physical ability, and other demographics. Diversity should go beyond quotas and strive towards inclusion in the workplace.
WORKPLACE INCLUSION
An atmosphere or culture where all employees are valued, feel a sense of belonging, can contribute and can thrive. It requires affirmative action and intentional action.
XENOPHOBIA
The fear or hatred of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange.
