This is a glossary that provides a list of terms that relate to diversity and multicultural education. It is for my class on Diverse Learning Contexts. There are 25 terms that are meant to help me throughout the course, so that I have a solid understanding of some foundational concepts.
Activism
Noun
Actions that are intended to create social change.
Advocacy
Noun
When you show public support for a specific cause.
Ageism
Noun
Ageism is when an individual is discriminated against because of their age.
Example: A company not hiring an individual because of their age.
Bias
Noun
When you have a prejudice for or against a certain thing or group.
Bigotry
Noun
When someone is overly attached to their own opinions about another group of individuals.
Class
Noun
How people are separated by their economic status.
Cultural Competence
When you are able to interact with and understand different cultures.
Culture
Noun
The art, customs, and social institutions that a certain nation or group of people abide by.
Discrimination
Noun
This is when there is unequal or unjust treatment towards a group of individuals. Specifically because of race, age, sex, and disabilities.
Example: When women were not allowed to vote.
Equity
Noun
Being fair and impartial.
Example: This is when you look at a group of people and make sure that everyone's starting lines are equitable. An individual running with one leg gets a head start over the person with two.
Ethnicity
Noun
This is the cultural group that you follow, it is different from race.
Hidden Curriculum
The unintentional things that teachers teach to the students. Like certain values or biases.
Intersectionality
Noun
When our different characteristics that define us such as age, race, gender, sexuality etc. interact with one another.
Kinship
Noun
The individuals that you are blood related to
Legality
Noun
Whether or not something complies with the written laws.
Literacy
Noun
Whether or not an individual can read and write.
Looking Glass Self
How we perceive we are looked at by others around us.
Meritocracy
Noun
The group in society of rich, educated folks that have influence in the society.
Microaggressions
Noun
When someone or something is subtly discriminatory. Like when a white girl randomly starts touching a black girl's hair.
Prejudice
Noun
Preconceived ideas that a person has about a certain group that have no real backing.
Race
Noun
One of the ways in which humans are grouped together. It is typically by skin color.
Socialization
Noun
Mixing with others and learning how to act in groups
Socioeconomic Status
How people are classified based off of income, education level, and career.
System of Oppression
Systems that are put in place that are either meant to or inadvertently continuously discriminate against a certain group.
Values
Noun
The things that hold significance in your life and the beliefs that you hold true to yourself.
Xenophobia
Noun
When an individual overtly dislikes people from different countries and cultures.