Terms

Understanding builds greater community

Accessibility

Includes the provision of accommodations and modifications to ensure equal access to employment and participation in activities for people with disabilities, the reduction or elimination of physical and attitudinal barriers to equitable opportunities, a commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities can independently access every outward-facing and internal activity or electronic space, and the pursuit of best practices such as universal design.

Belonging

A feeling that is associated with being valued, included, supported, and connected. The feeling of belonging allows staff to bring their true and authentic self into professional spaces, belonging to Illinois Extension also means that the diversity of our community members, partners, and other stakeholders is represented in all aspects of our work (e.g., employment, marketing, strategic planning, and program delivery).

Bias

An evaluation or belief. Can have a bias towards an object, person, or concept that is positive or negative. Bias in and of itself is a neutral term. An unfair preference for or dislike of something; can be explicit or implicit.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to gather evidence that confirms preexisting expectations, typically by emphasizing or pursuing supporting evidence while dismissing or failing to seek contradictory evidence.

Discrimination

Treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.

Diversity

The multiple identities around which people differ (such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability status, national origin, etc.) that make one individual or group different from another and impact one’s perceptions, experiences, and interactions.

Equity

The guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all students, faculty, and staff, while simultaneously working to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some (usually historically underrepresented and marginalized) groups.

Ethnicity

A sociological concept based on shared group characteristics such as culture, language, geolocation, and heritage. The term “ethnicity” first appeared in the 20th century. It was meant to define social groups outside of racial distinctions. The definition of ethnicity is not unchanging.

Explicit Bias

Refers to the attitudes and beliefs we have about a person or group on a conscious level. These biases and their expression arise as the direct result of a perceived threat.

Gender Identity

One's innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.

Implicit Bias

The attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. Also known as unconscious or hidden bias, are negative associations that people unknowingly hold. They are expressed automatically, without conscious awareness. Many studies have indicated that implicit biases affect individual attitudes and actions, creating real-world implications. This can occur even though individuals may not be aware that those biases exist internally.

Implicit Racial Bias

Can cause individuals to unknowingly act in discriminatory ways. This does not mean that the individual is overtly racist, but rather that their perceptions have been shaped by experiences and these perceptions potentially result in biased thoughts or actions.

Inclusion

Active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity; embracing and affirming differences and offering respect in words and actions (such as language) for all groups and people.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or social problem as affected by a number of discriminations and disadvantages. It considers people’s overlapping identities and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face.

Microaggressions

Brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults toward a social group. Can be interpreted as “backhanded communications.”

Privilege

Represents access within a range of situations, based on any number of categories including race, gender, education, and ability, among others. Recognizing and understanding one’s privilege and advantages can be made difficult based on an individual’s personal view of their individual commitment and accomplishments to earned access.

Pronouns

(The use of pronouns, she/her/hers/ he/him/his/or gender-neutral- them/they/their/ze/zer.) Using pronouns gives everyone in the room the opportunity to self-identify instead of assuming someone’s identity or which pronouns they use. Including pronouns is a first step toward respecting people’s identity and creating a more welcoming space for people of all genders.

Race

A human-invented, shorthand term used to describe and categorize people into various social groups based on characteristics like skin color, physical features, and genetic heredity. Race, while not a valid biological concept, is a real social construction that gives or denies benefits and privileges.

Stereotypes

Generalizations about attributes of a particular social group that disregards individual diversity within the group.

Systemic Oppression

A lens we intentionally employ to sharpen our focus on the ways in which any given form of oppression (race, gender, class, language, sexual orientation, etc.) may be negatively impacting people’s ability to make progress on the things they care about and/or preventing individual or collective action toward the achievement of a particular goal.

Underserved Communities

Refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, who have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life.

Definition References