Definitions

Racism is when people are treated unfairly because of their race. It is also a system in which one race maintains supremacy over another race through a set of attitudes, behaviors, social structures, and institutional power. Intended or unintended aggression, harmful comments, or discrimination based on traits, including the color of one’s skin or perceived heritage are examples of racist behaviors.

Ableism is when people are treated unfairly because of their disability. Intended or unintended aggression, harmful comments, or discrimination based on perceived or actual disability are examples of ableism.

Sexism is when people are treated unfairly because of their sex. Intended or unintended aggression, harmful comments, or discrimination based on a person’s perceived sex, especially against women, girls and non-binary individuals are examples of sexism.

Xenophobia is when people are treated unfairly because they are considered foreign. Intended or unintended aggression, harmful comments, or discrimination based on one’s perceived status as strange or foreign, for example, a person who is perceived as living in or citizen of a country outside the United States, either living in the U.S. or in their home country are examples of xenophobia.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual + (LGBTQIA+) based discrimination is when people are treated unfairly because of their identity as lesbian, gay, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual. Intended or unintended aggression, harmful comments, or other oppressive behavior based on a person’s LGBTQIA+ identity or perceived identity are examples of discrimination.

Religious intolerance is when people re treated unfairly based on their religion or belief. Intended or unintended aggression, harmful comments, discrimination or negative stereotyping on the basis of religion or belief are examples of religious intolerance.

Definitions partially abridged from: What is Police Violence? A plain language booklet about Anti-Black Racism, police violence, and what you can do to stop it (ASAN, AAPD, Green Mountain Self-Advocates). Discrimination, Racism, Sexism definitions in Britannica.com; the Xenophobia definition in Merriam-Webster.com; the UN Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on combatting intolerance based on religion or belief; and the Understanding Privilege and Oppression Handout from Vanderbilt University.

Additional recommended definition sources: January 2021 Working Definition of Ableism, Talila A. Lewis, Blog, https://www.talilalewis.com/blog/january-2021-working-definition-of-ableism; Racism defined by Dismantling Racism, https://www.dismantlingracism.org/racism-defined.html.