Marginalization

A social process by which individuals or groups are (intentionally or unintentionally) distanced from access to power and resources and constructed as insignificant, peripheral or less valuable/privileged to a community or “mainstream” society. This term describes a social process, so as not to imply a lack of agency.

Microaggression

Everyday verbal, nonverbal and environmental slights, insults and snubs. Microaggressions can be intentional or not, but in both cases they communicate a hostile, dismissive, derogatory or otherwise negative message to the marginalized person or people they target.

Misgender

To refer to someone using a word, in particular a pronoun or term of address, that does not correctly reflect their gender. Misgendering can be intentional or unintentional, but is harmful regardless of intent.

Misogynoir

This portmanteau term describes the unique type of discrimination experienced by Black women, and anti-Black racist misogyny in particular. The term was coined by American feminist scholar Dr. Moya Bailey.

Nonbinary

Refers to people who do not subscribe to the gender binary. They might exist between or beyond the man-woman binary. Some use the term exclusively, while others may use it interchangeably with terms like genderqueer, genderfluid, gender nonconforming, gender diverse or gender expansive. It can also be combined with other descriptors e.g. nonbinary woman or transmasc nonbinary.