Glossary

BIWoC

Black, Indigenous, and self-identified Womxn of Colour.

Cisgender

Of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex of the person had, or, was identified as having at birth. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Feminism

The theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. It is also an organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Gender Fluidity

Of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity is not fixed. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Gender Identity

A person's internal sense of being male, female, some combination of male and female, or neither male nor female. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Intersectionality (Intersectionalism)

The complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Intersectionalism, is both a framework and action. As a framework, intersectionality is particularly attentive to the ways that gender, race and class intersect to shape the experiences of Black womxn in particular, and more recently womxn of colour in general. Importantly, this focus on Black womxn is not to exclude non-Black womxn of colour or minimize their importance; instead, it is to acknowledge Black women’s unique position within the community, due to the pervasiveness of anti-Blackness both outside and inside POC communities.

Islamophobia

Irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against Islam or people who practice Islam. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

LBGTQ+

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (one's sexual or gender identity) inclusion of all individuals and accepted for who they are. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Misogyny

The hatred of women, prejudice against women or girls, which can be manifested in numerous ways including: social exclusion, sex discrimination, hostility, patriarchy and male privilege. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Non-Binary

Relating to, or being, a person who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that is neither entirely male nor entirely female. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Patriarchy

Social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family, the legal dependence of wives and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Privilege

To accord a higher value or superior position to. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Queer

Of, relating to, or being a person whose sexual orientation is not heterosexual and/or whose gender identity is not cisgender. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Racism

A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Sisterhood

The solidarity of women based on shared conditions, experiences, or concerns, a community or society of sisters. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Transgender

Of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity differs from the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Transphobia

Irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against transgender people. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Womxn (Womxn of Colour)

"Womxn" is an anti-oppressive spelling that supports all self identified womxn of colour. It is a more inclusive spelling that not only represents power and independence, but also acknowledges the intersections of injustice womxn of marginalized identities have experienced throughout history.