Glossary

Here, "listening" implies the willingness to learn about the experience of others with more curiosity and less judgement.

A bill that would amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination related to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. This bill would cover discrimination in areas such as public accommodations (including retail stores, rentals, and recreational facilities), education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. The Equality Act was passed by the United States House of Representatives on May 17th, 2019 and now resides with the United States Senate awaiting consideration.

The net worth of an individual that has been built up over time, sometimes influenced by generational wealth, privilege, or inheritance.

Housing that can be accessed and maintained while paying for and meeting other basic needs such as food, transportation, access to work and school, clothing, and health care

A political and ideological revolution that happened in North America from 1765-1783, causing the American Revolutionary War and resulting in the formation of the United States of America.

The use of a medium, such as clay or paint, to construct a representation of the real thing. Artistic representations are constructions of reality.

An identity that describes someone who experiences limited or no sexual attraction or desires.

The process of choosing an intimate partner or partners based on similarity to oneself, particularly related to physical and social categories.

An identity that describes someone who experiences attraction to one or more genders, or to their own gender and others.

A current banking and lending issue as a result of climate change. Real estate that is considered high risk due to low elevation may not qualify for loans.

A 1942 agreement between the United States and Mexico that guaranteed adequate living conditions, a 30-cent per hour minimum wage, and other benefits for migrant farmworkers.

May also appear as Xicano or Xicana. Chicano/a is an identity that people of Mexican descent who are born in the United States may choose for themselves. This term became popular in the United States during the Chicano Movement (El Movimiento) of the 1960s, when it was reclaimed as an act of resistance to assimilationist narratives. It has a unique meaning from “Mexican-American,” although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

A tax credit available to United States taxpayers based on whether they pay for care for a qualifying individual, such as a child or other dependent.

When people and communities are forced to relocate to areas less devastated by flooding, storms, drought, lack of clean water or economic disaster due to climate change.

The attempt or the ability to infer the thinking and the emotional responses of another person.

A society viewpoint that focuses on meeting the needs and goals of all members of a group, rather than focusing on individual successes.

Prejudice or discrimination that favors people with lighter skin over those with darker skin, especially within a racial or ethnic group.

Spouses whose union has been formed through the process of common-law marriage. Depending on local laws, a common-law marriage is a legally recognized marriage formed without formal recognition, but which meets certain requirements, such as having cohabited for a length of time and presenting as married.

A marriage defined by economic stability that also values companionship, love, affection, and sex.

Within the fields of anthropology and sociology, the act of examining and contrasting social processes and institutions with a view to draw inferences and understand patterns.

When 30% or more of a household’s monthly gross income is dedicated to housing, making it difficult to pay for necessities (food, clothing, medical care).

A combination of skills that creates the ability to interact with other cultures respectfully and appropriately.

Focuses on staying other-centered in order to learn about and understand the experience and viewpoint of people with social identities different from your own.

The tendency of language and labels to change more slowly than social norms, which can result in a disconnection between ideas and practice.

A socially transmitted worldview created, learned and shared by a group which includes values, beliefs, customs and behaviors and which is reflected in language, objects, food, and social institutions.

Drafted in 1776, the Declaration of Independence announced the separation of the original Thirteen Colonies from British rule and made a statement about the principles that guide United States’ values. Unlike other founding documents, it is not legally binding, although it still has a powerful influence on the American identity.

A United States immigration policy that allows individuals who arrived in the United States as children to remain and work in the country for a renewable period of two years. This policy has been legalized and implemented inconsistently in the 2000s.

The personal or institutional action of treating people unjustly based on notable characteristics, often related to traits such as race, sex, age, or sexual orientation.

The policy in effect between 1994-2011 that prevented LGBTQ+ individuals who served in the United States military from disclosing their LGBTQ+ identity in any way, at risk of losing their employment. This rule also prevented military superiors from harassing or investigating the identity of anyone in active service.

How people share goods and services.

Everyone having access to what they need.

Ensuring that people have what they need in order to have a healthy, successful life equal to others.  Different from equality in that some may receive more help than others in order to be at the same level of success.

A social category and shared identity based on a common culture or national sense of belonging.

A conscious tendency and behavior to favor one person, group, or point of view over another usually based on social characteristics such as gender, sexuality, race or socioeconomic status.

Areas just outside of suburban communities which typically feature low density housing and large homes. These may overlap into farm or forested areas, but are not considered rural.

Legislation and court rulings related to domestic relations such as adoption, union formation and union dissolution.

An identity that describes someone who is homosexual, i.e. attracted to others of their same gender. Used to refer to men who are attracted to other men, but also used as an umbrella term that includes anyone who is attracted to their own gender.

A socially constructed system that separates human identity into one of two categories, in this case “male” and “female,” without allowance for roles outside of the binary.

A temporary agricultural visa which allows foreign nationals to enter into the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature.

Being in the state of not having access to stable housing. Couch surfing, tent cities, shelters, and living in a car are all examples of houselessness.

Describes a lack of access to stable housing, which may include individuals who must move frequently, cannot afford rent, live with relatives, are overcrowded, or who do not have adequate housing quality.

An unconscious tendency to favor one person, group, or point of view over another usually based on social characteristics such as gender, sexuality, race or socioeconomic status.

A marriage that emphasizes flexible roles among the partners and the self-fulfillment of each individual in the marriage.

Emphasizes the needs and success of the individual over the needs of the whole community.

Lack of fair treatment, opportunity, or conditions.

Marriage that is socially and legally recognized by clearly defined gender roles and patterns of behavior.

An approach originally advanced by women of color that finds it critical to look at how identities and characteristics (such as ethnicity, race, gender, etc.) overlap and influence each other to create complex hierarchies of power and oppression.

The social structure that ties people together (whether by blood, marriage, legal processes, or other agreements) and includes family relationships.

An identity that typically describes a woman who is attracted to other women.

A social science theory created by German sociologist Max Weber in 1920. The theory of life chances postulates that an individual’s opportunity to lead a successful and fulfilling life are correlated to a variety of factors, including social stratification, social class, social mobility, and social equality, all of which can give a person low or high life chances.

The Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriage in 1967 in the United States.

A viewpoint that defines disability and disease as something that is diagnosed, studied, and treated by the medical professional.

The materials and supplies used to create a piece of art, such as paint or clay. May also describe categories of art, such as a painting or sculpture.

An identity that describes the state of holding an identity outside of the gender binary of “male” or “female.”

A family group that consists of two parents and their children living together in one household.

The Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in 2015 in the United States.

An identity that describes someone who experiences attraction to people of all genders.

The philosophy behind teaching methods and practices.

An acronym for “person of color” or “people of color.” Can refer to individuals with a skin tone other than white.

A theory that emphasizes the increasing individuality and diverse choices that are available and acceptable in work and family life.

Two or more individuals who maintain an intimate relationship that they expect will last indefinitely—or in the case of a parent and child, until the child reaches adulthood—and who typically share household functions.

Describes art in any medium whose form, function and meaning are created for the general public through a public process.

One or two adults who are related by partnership who is/are taking care of dependents, and the dependents themselves.

Products and services that may be enjoyed by people who do not themselves produce them. Examples include drinking water, law enforcement, infrastructure, and national defense.

Describes social behavior patterns that exist in relationships between humans, such as parent, partner, sibling, employee, employer, etc.

Describes a person’s sexual identity based on the gender identity to which they are attracted.

Focuses on how one aspect of social identity dictates whether one accesses power or experiences oppression.

Describes traits that may be biologically determined and/or socially constructed. Examples include sex, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, age, sexuality, nationality, first language, and religion.

Meaning assigned to an object or event by mutual agreement (explicit or implicit) of the members of a society; can change over time and/or location.

Hierarchical value is assigned to perceived differences between one socially constructed idea and another. Class, race, and other hierarchies based on social identity are social constructions of difference.

The settings and conditions in which individuals and families spend most of their time, which affect their health and quality of life.

This theory emphasizes that individuals are rational beings who enter into relationships via the evaluation of benefits they will receive and what costs they will incur.

A person’s sense of self as defined by and in relation to the combination of social characteristics, roles, and groups to which they belong.

Unit of importance that meets the needs of society structured with defined rules and roles.

A viewpoint that sees an individual with disability or disease as having personal agency but also impacted by multiple ecological factors.

A large issue that affects many people, can threaten the health and well being of society, is recognized as a problem by many, includes multiple causes and effects, and needs a systemic solution.

Patterns of behavior, interactions or change among people in an organization or broader society.

A theory that describes the ways that individuals learn to function within a particular society’s rules and expectations, used especially when studying young children.

The combination of one’s social and economic status, specifically related to income, education, and career or job status.

The ability to relate personal experience and observations to the greater trends and events in society, understanding the relationship between social problems and personal troubles.

The intangible aspects of culture such as ideas or language (and as contrasted to material aspects like clothing or tools).

A law enacted as part of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination in home sales, rentals, and financing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.

An identity that describes a person who holds a gender identity that is different from the one they were assigned at birth.

Families whose members live on different continents and/or in different countries.