Question 1

2SLGBTQ+

Accepted Answer

The acronym for " Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,  Queer." The plus sign represents and acknowledges other identities not  explicitly defined in the acronym, such as questioning, intersex, or  asexual.

Question 2

Ableism

Accepted Answer

The systemic and social discrimination of people with disabilities that  also privileges people without a disability. Ableism perpetuates the  idea that people without disabilities are normal and superior and that  people with disabilities are inferior or need to be "cured." Ableism  manifests in our language through words like "lame" or "moron" and in  the form of physical barriers or lack of accommodations.

Question 3

Accessibility

Accepted Answer

The practice of designing physical or digital spaces available to and operable by everyone regardless of their ability.

Question 4

Accommodation

Accepted Answer

The act of adjusting or adapting to a certain situation, environment, or  circumstance. Within the workplace context, a job accommodation is an  adjustment to a job or work environment for an individual to perform the  essential duties of their job. A common misconception is that  accommodations are solely reserved for persons with disabilities.  However, reasonable accommodations are available and apply to all  persons provided they are addressing human rights factors ensuring  fairness and equity for identity considerations such as: age, religious  needs, gender identity, family status, etc. Accommodations may include  specialized equipment, modifications to the work environment, or  adjustments to work schedules or responsibilities.

Question 5

Advocacy

Accepted Answer

The public act of arguing for, recommending, or supporting a person,  cause, or policy with the goal of helping others find their voice.

Question 6

Ageism

Accepted Answer

A set of ideologies that discriminates against people based on their  age. It can impact individuals of any age but is typically directed  towards younger and older people. Ageism occurs due to negative bias, or  stereotypes that normalize harmful beliefs about children, young  people, and older people, such as the idea that they are a burden or  can't meaningfully contribute to society through things like work.

Question 7

Agender

Accepted Answer

Those who do not experience or identify with any gender.

Question 8

Ally

Accepted Answer

Any person who actively promotes and aspires to  advance a culture of inclusion to create affirming and welcoming  environments for everyone.

Being an ally is  best understood as a verb rather than a noun, as it is an ongoing  practice and commitment to equity, not a status to achieve. A person  cannot declare themselves an ally; they must be recognized as an ally by  the communities they want to support.

Question 9

Allyship

Accepted Answer

The practice of acknowledging and removing barriers, improving equity  whenever possible, and listening to the needs identified by  equity-deserving groups. It consists of an offer to support  equity-deserving groups and formulate connections to assist them in  their efforts to seek change, social justice, or recognition

Question 10

Androgynous

Accepted Answer

A person whose gender expression has masculine and feminine elements.

Question 11

Annual Action Plan

Accepted Answer

A document that lists the steps taken to achieve a specific goal. The  purpose of an action plan is to clarify what resources are required to  reach the goal, formulate a timeline for when specific tasks need to be  completed and determine what resources are required. Some employment  equity legislation requires organizations to develop action plans that  address hiring, training, promotion, and retention of members of  underrepresented groups to correct under-representation and eliminate  barriers.

Question 12

Anti-Asian Racism

Accepted Answer

The  ongoing race-based discrimination, negative stereotyping, and injustice  experienced by Asian communities. It includes ideas and practices that  establish, maintain, and perpetuate erasure, power imbalances, systemic  barriers, and inequitable outcomes that stem from a legacy of colonial  policies and practices.

Systemic anti-Asian  racism has evolved from historical Canadian policies such as "head  taxes", Japanese internment camps, and The Chinese Exclusion Act. It can  also manifest in inequitable outcomes in education, well-being, and  health. Individual lived experiences of anti-Asian racism can be seen  through the monumental resurgence in acts of hostility and violence  directed at Asian people since the beginning of the 2020 pandemic.

Anti-Asian  racism disproportionately impacts East, South and Southeast Asian  communities, while Central and Western Asians tend to face alternative  forms of racial oppression. To more appropriately discuss stereotypes,  discrimination and other issues facing Central and Western Asian  communities, it is necessary to create unique spaces dedicated to  addressing issues such as Islamophobia or anti-Arab discrimination.

Question 13

Anti-Black Racism

Accepted Answer

The ongoing race-based discrimination, negative  stereotyping, and injustice experienced by Black communities. It  includes ideas and practices that establish, maintain, and perpetuate  erasure, power imbalances, systemic barriers, and inequitable outcomes  that stem from a legacy of colonial policies and practices.

Systemic  anti-Black racism has evolved from historical Canadian policies such as  enslavement, segregation, and limitations on property rights. It can  also manifest in the overrepresentation of Black peoples in criminal  justice and child welfare systems, as well as inequitable outcomes in  education, well-being, and health.

Individual  lived experiences of anti-Black racism can be seen in the continuous  microaggressions and hate speech, police brutality, and racial profiling  directed at Black people.

Question 14

Anti-Indigenous Racism

Accepted Answer

The  ongoing race-based discrimination, negative stereotyping, and injustice  experienced by Indigenous communities. It includes ideas and practices  that establish, maintain, and perpetuate erasure, power imbalances,  systemic barriers, and inequitable outcomes that stem from the legacy of  colonial policies and practices in Canada.

Systemic  anti-Indigenous racism has evolved from Canadian policies such as the  various iterations of the Indian Act and the residential school system.  It can also manifest in the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in  criminal justice and child welfare systems, as well as inequitable  outcomes in education, well-being, health and access to land.

Individual  lived experiences of anti-Indigenous racism can be seen in the  continuous microaggressions, stigma, stereotyping and violence directed  at Indigenous people.

Question 15

Anti-Oppressive Practice

Accepted Answer

A way of understanding and recognizing how race, gender, sexual  orientation, ability, age, body size, citizenship, and class can be the  basis for marginalizing particular groups of people. Anti-oppressive  actions or strategies aim to challenge and remove systemic,  institutional, and individual forms of oppression and create equity for  all people.

Question 16

Anti-Racism

Accepted Answer

The active and ongoing work to alleviate and advocate against the  discrimination of racialized people and to create equity for everyone  regardless of race. Anti-racism work involves acknowledging and  challenging racist beliefs and practices on interpersonal, structural,  and social levels.

Question 17

Antisemitism

Accepted Answer

A form of discrimination, prejudice, or hostility directed against  Jewish individuals or the Jewish community, based on their religious,  cultural, or ethnic background. These beliefs have persisted in various  forms throughout history, including religious intolerance, social  exclusion, economic discrimination, and violent persecution.  Antisemitism can manifest in conspiracy theories, dehumanizing language,  discriminatory policies, or physical attacks.

Question 18

Asexual

Accepted Answer

A person who lacks or has a low sexual attraction or desire to engage in  sexual activity. Asexuality exists on a spectrum that includes  sub-identities such as demisexual, which describes someone who only  feels sexual attraction when they share an emotional bond. Asexuality is  distinct from celibacy or abstinence, which is the deliberate  refraining from sexual activity.

Question 19

Assimilate

Accepted Answer

The process in which a minority group or culture assumes the behaviors, values, rituals, and beliefs of a majority group.

Question 20

Authentic Self

Accepted Answer

The most honest representation of you. Who you are and know yourself to be regardless of where you work, who you know, etc.

Question 21

Autism

Accepted Answer

A complex developmental disability of variable severity involving  persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests  and repetitive patters of thought or behaviour.

Question 22

Belonging

Accepted Answer

Belonging is a sense of fitting in or feeling like you are an important  member of a group—the feeling where employees can be their authentic  selves without judgement.

Question 23

Bias

Accepted Answer

Personal influences resulting in favouritism or prejudice towards an idea, object, or individual.

Question 24

Bigotry

Accepted Answer

An attitude of hatred or intolerance toward a group of people based on  their religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other  identity factor. It includes the beliefs that certain groups are  inferior to others and should be treated differently, often in a  discriminatory manner. This can lead to discrimination and even violence  against those seen as different. Bigotry involves a refusal to accept  differences in opinion or lifestyle, leading to prejudice and negative  attitudes towards those who are different.

Question 25

BIPOC

Accepted Answer

An acronym for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.

In the DEIB space, this is now an outdated term. To remain in line with  best practice, the preferred or updated term is "racialized".

Question 26

Bisexual

Accepted Answer

An individual who is romantically or sexually attracted to people of  more than one gender or to those who are the same or different gender  from themselves.

Question 27

Black

Accepted Answer

A racialized classification of people, often a political and usually a  skin colour-based category for specific populations with a mid to dark  brown complexion. It is most commonly used for people of African  ancestry but is not necessarily an indicator of any close ancestral  relationship.

Question 28

Cisgender (Cis)

Accepted Answer

A term for someone whose gender identity is in alignment with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Question 29

Cissexism

Accepted Answer

The attitudes, bias, or prejudice that favour or privilege cisgender  people. It includes the assumption that all people are cisgender, that  being cisgender is the norm and that being of a diverse gender identity  is abnormal, otherwise known as cisnormativity. Cissexism and  transphobia are connected; transphobia often describes the actions,  practices and beliefs informed by cissexism.

Question 30

Classism

Accepted Answer

Discriminatory policies, practices, and beliefs against people or groups  because of their socioeconomic status based on wealth, income, social  status and occupation.

Question 31

Colonialism

Accepted Answer

A political, social, and economic theory whereby one group exerts their  power and control over another. This theory relies on the belief that  the "dominant" group has a right to land due to their power - leading to  colonization.

Question 32

Colonization

Accepted Answer

The act of exerting power and maintaining control of a particular group  through the territory they inhabit. This process involves the erasure of  characteristics such as resources, culture, language, identity, and  politics unique to that particular group.

Question 33

Colourblindness

Accepted Answer

The practice or belief that to end discrimination and achieve equality,  it is best to treat all people the same by ignoring racial differences.  Colourblindess is harmful because it ignores important historical and  ongoing inequities between people of different races and ethnicities.

Question 34

Colourism

Accepted Answer

A form of discrimination based on skin tone. It often involves  lighter-skinned individuals having greater social and economic privilege  than people with darker complexions. Colourism is rooted in the idea  that lighter skin tones are more desirable than darker ones and is  closely related to racism and other forms of prejudice. It manifests  itself in many ways, including preferential treatment of lighter-skinned  people in the workplace, education system, and even in family dynamics.  Colourism has been present throughout history, often as a result of  colonization, slavery, and/or imperialism. Its effects can be seen in  disparities between light-skinned and dark-skinned members of racialized  populations, often resulting in lower incomes, educational attainment,  and social status among those with darker complexions.

Question 35

Conformity

Accepted Answer

A type of social behaviour in which an individual adjusts their beliefs,  attitudes and behaviours to align with those of a group. It is often  seen as a form of compliance or obedience to perceived social pressures  from within the group and involves sacrificing one's own personal  interests. Conformity can be either voluntary or involuntary, although  most instances of conformity involve some kind of voluntary acceptance  or agreement.

Question 36

Critical Race Theory

Accepted Answer

Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a branch of legal scholarship that  examines the systemic ways in which race and racism operate in society.  It uses a critical lens to examine existing structures, institutions,  and systems of power at local, national, and global levels in order to  identify how racism shapes law and policy. CRT also seeks to uncover the  role that racism has played in creating inequalities between  marginalized groups and dominant groups within society. It looks at how  past discrimination has shaped current policies, practices, and norms as  well as how it continues to inform decision-making today. In addition,  CRT also focuses on the empowerment of marginalized people by addressing  issues such as inequity of access to power, resources, opportunities,  justice and recognition.

Question 37

Cultural Appropriation

Accepted Answer

The inappropriate adoption of an element or elements of one culture or  identity by members of another culture or identity. The practice of  appropriation often reinforces stereotypes and contributes to the  further oppression of marginalized individuals.

Question 38

Cultural Competence

Accepted Answer

Having an adept understanding, knowledge, and ability to interact  respectfully with people of different cultures and communities. Culture  competence acknowledges the differences and similarities between  cultures without assigning them a value.

Question 39

Cultural Group

Accepted Answer

A community of people who share the same beliefs, behaviours, values, language, outlooks, and opinions.

Question 40

Culture

Accepted Answer

The characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people,  including elements such as language, manners of interacting, thoughts,  values, expected behaviours, practices, relationships, customs, roles,  rituals, courtesies, and communication.

Question 41

Decolonization

Accepted Answer

The process of freeing oneself from colonialism to regain control and  autonomy over land, resources, culture, language, identity, and  politics. Decolonization requires active resistance against colonial  powers, and a shift of power towards political, economic, educational,  cultural, and psychic independence that originates from a colonized  nation's own indigenous culture. Ultimately decolonization is a process  of transforming relationships so that all people are free to define  their own identities in their own terms

Question 42

Diaspora

Accepted Answer

A community of people from the same homeland who have been scattered or  migrated to other lands. This community may be created voluntarily or by  force. For example, moving for better economic opportunity or traumatic  events such as war or colonization. People of a diaspora typically  preserve and celebrate the culture and traditions of their homeland.

Question 43

Diversity

Accepted Answer

The representation of differences. The psychological, physical, and  social variations among people include age, gender identity, sexual  orientation, race/ethnicity, ability, national origin, religion/belief,  marital status, socioeconomic status etc. A diverse space is where many  different social and cultural characteristics blend.

Question 44

Equitable Systems

Accepted Answer

Systems that allocate resources and/or opportunities needed to reach a fair outcome.

Question 45

Equality

Accepted Answer

Providing the same tools, accommodation, resources, and opportunities to everyone, regardless of their differences.

Question 46

Equity

Accepted Answer

Providing fair treatment based on individual needs while recognizing and  removing barriers that challenge or prevent some people from fully  engaging or succeeding in their work.

Question 47

Equity-Deserving Groups

Accepted Answer

Communities that experience significant collective barriers, to  equitable access, opportunities, and resources while participating in  society.

Question 48

Ethnicity

Accepted Answer

The way of organizing people into social groups based on common identity  markers like geography, values, beliefs, behaviours, traditions,  language, history, political/economic interests, and ancestry.

Question 49

Ethnocentrism

Accepted Answer

Consciously or unconsciously applying one's own culture or ethnicity as a  frame of reference to judge other cultures, practices, behaviours,  beliefs, and people, instead of using the standards of the particular  culture involved.

Question 50

Eurocentrism

Accepted Answer

The active favouritism of European culture. Eurocentrism fails to  acknowledge the barriers and experiences of other ethnicities and  considers other cultures to be inferior.

Question 51

Explicit Bias

Question 52

First Nation

Question 53

Gay

Question 54

Genderfluid

Question 55

Gender Binary

Question 56

Gender Dysphoria

Question 57

Gender Expansive

Question 58

Gender Expression

Question 59

Gender Identity

Question 60

Gender Neutral

Question 61

Gender Norms

Question 62

Gender Roles

Question 63

Gender Spectrum

Question 64

Harassment

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