Acronym for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.
Ableism is rampant throughout our society, devaluing and discriminating against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities. It often comes from the assumption that disabled people need to be ‘fixed’, saved or pitied. In order to combat this it is vital that we are all educating ourselves about the different forms and experiences of disability, ensuring that we are creating accessible and safe spaces, and elevating the voices of people living with disabilities.
The termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus.[note 1] An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion" and occurs in approximately 30% to 40% of pregnancies. When deliberate steps are taken to end a pregnancy, it is called an induced abortion, or less frequently "induced miscarriage". The unmodified word abortion generally refers to an induced abortion.
Sex education curriculum presenting marriage as the only morally correct context for sexual activity; if contraception methods are discussed, failure rates are typically emphasized.
Affirmative action is an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination, especially in relation to employment or education.
When both parties agree to sexual conduct, either through clear, verbal communication or nonverbal cues or gestures. With "yes means yes", a person can still say "no" after an initial yes.
Allyship refers to the state or condition of being an ally or, in other words, asupportive person for another person or group. Male allyship has become a popular talking point and group movement in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
Less obvious. Kind of seems like a compliment, even though it's rooted in men's feelings of superiority. It's when men say women are worthy of their protection (off the sinking boat first) or that they're more nurturing than men (therefore should raise children). It's restrictive.
A movement that promotes acceptance and appreciation of all body types, regardless of size, shape, or appearance. It encourages individuals to challenge societal beauty standards and embrace their bodies as they are.
Often called the “abortion pill,” this is an abortion option for pregnancies earlier than 11 weeks. Medication abortion actually consists of two pills: mifepristone, which blocks the hormone needed for the pregnancy to develop, followed shortly after by misoprostol, which induces bleeding and cramping to empty the uterus and expel the pregnancy.
Crisis pregnancy centers are organizations that seek to intercept women with unintended pregnancies who might be considering abortion. Their mission is to prevent abortions by persuading women that adoption or parenting is a better option. They strive to give the impression that they are clinical centers, offering legitimate medical services and advice, yet they are exempt from regulatory, licensure, and credentialing oversight that apply to health care facilities. Because the religious ideology of these centers’ owners and employees takes priority over the health and well-being of the women seeking care at these centers, women do not receive comprehensive, accurate, evidence-based clinical information about all available options. Although crisis pregnancy centers enjoy First Amendment rights protections, their propagation of misinformation should be regarded as an ethical violation that undermines women’s health.
A procedure to remove tissue from inside your uterus. Health care providers perform dilation and curettage to diagnose and treat certain uterine conditions — such as heavy bleeding — or to clear the uterine lining after a miscarriage or abortion.
Economic justice, which touches the individual person as well as the social order, encompasses the moral principles which guide us in designing our economic institutions. These institutions determine how each person earns a living, enters into contracts, exchanges goods and services with others and otherwise produces an independent material foundation for his or her economic sustenance. The ultimate purpose of economic justice is to free each person to engage creatively in the unlimited work beyond economics, that of the mind and the spirit.
He's emotional, full of angst and seems like a feminist, but what he really wants is a real-life manic pixie dream girl to manipulate and eventually discard after he finds himself.
A derogatory term for a radical feminist.
A range of social movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. It's about respecting diverse women's experiences, identities, knowledge and strengths, and striving to empower all women to realize their full rights.
A person who supports feminism.
A period of feminist activity and thought that occurred during the 19th and early 20th century throughout the Western world. It focused on legal issues, primarily on securing women's right to vote.
Although debated by some, many claim that a fourth wave of feminism began about 2012, with a focus on sexual harassment, body shaming, and rape culture, among other issues. A key component was the use of social media to highlight and address these concerns. The new wave arose amid a number of high-profile incidents. In December 2012 a young woman was brutally gang-raped in India and subsequently died, sparking local protests and international outrage. That was followed two years later by the Gamergate campaign, a manifestation of the so-called “men’s rights movement” that had its origins on the Web site 4chan. GamerGate ostensibly sought to promote ethics in video-game journalism, but it was in reality a harassment campaign against “social justice warriors.” The latter were often women who objected to female stereotypes in video games and were subsequently inundated with death threats and rape threats.
A form of psychological abuse wherein the perpetrator makes the victim belief that they are imagining things, when in fact the perpetrator is manipulating the situation to gain control. This occurs frequently among marginalized groups who are told that they are just “imagining” the oppression that they face. (also see victim blaming)
A metaphor used to represent an invisible barrier that prevents a given demographic (typically applied to women) from rising beyond a certain level in a hierarchy.
The one most people think about - openly insulting, objectifying and degrading women.
Women’s projection of misogyny onto other women/girls, or oneself, via behavior, attitudes, or words. Colloquially, internalized misogyny often presents as being “not like the other girls” or a “pick-me.”
The understanding of how women's overlapping identities — including race, class, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and disability status — impact the way they experience oppression and discrimination.
Umbrella term for any variations in genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, or chromosomes that do not fit within the gender binary‘s rigid biological expectations; also used to denote the diverse community of those with differences in reproductive anatomy or sex traits.
Islamophobia refers to the fear of and hostility toward Muslims and Islam that is driven by racism and that leads to exclusionary, discriminatory, and violent actions targeting Muslims and those perceived as Muslim.
The process through which a minor can be excused by a judge from a state’s parental consent and/or parental notification laws.
Kyriarchy is a concept that was first created by Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza in 1992. She used the word to describe her theory of "interconnected, interacting and self-extending systems of domination and submission, in which a single individual might be oppressed in some relationships and privileged in others," according to Belle Brita, a feminist lifestyle blog.
Term often used for a woman who experiences attraction primarily to other women.
Long-acting reversible contraception; includes implants and IUDs (intrauterine devices).
A way of looking at the world through a masculine lens that views women as sexual objects.
To explain something to a woman in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner, typically to a woman already knowledgeable about the topic.
When men take up excess space by sitting with their legs far apart. This is such an actual thing that in 2014 New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a campaign to get guys to close their legs to make more room on the subway.
The relegation of a person, group, or idea to a powerless and/or insignificant societal position, or to the “margins” of a society.
To relegate to the fringes, out of the mainstream; make seem unimportant.
To be marginalized mean to be pushed to the edge of a group and made to feel less important. Many minority or sub-groups are excluded, and their needs or desires ignored, making them ‘marginalized’. This includes women, people of color, people with disabilities, queer people, trans people, and more.
The idea that menstrual products should be affordable, accessible, and safe for all who need them; also called period equity.
Invisible labor that is mental and not physical; the thought and planning needed to run a household.
Slights towards marginalized groups that are unintentional, indirect, and/or subdued, and thus commonplace.
Misogyny directed toward black women.
Hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women, manifested in various forms such as physical intimidation and abuse, sexual harassment and rape, social shunning and ostracism, etc.
An umbrella term for people whose gender identities are outside the female/male or woman/man gender binary.
A form of government in which power rests with a small number of people. These people may or may not be distinguished by one or several characteristics, such as nobility, fame, wealth, education, or corporate, religious, political, or military control.
The unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power over an individual or, in this case, a population of people such as women.
Pansexuality, also known as omnisexuality, refers to the sexual or romantic attraction towards others regardless of their sexual or gender identity.
A social system in which power is held by men, through cultural norms and customs that favor men and withhold opportunity from women.
Menstrual poverty refers to the inability to afford menstrual products, such as pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. It is a global issue that affects millions of people, particularly women and girls from low-income backgrounds.
The gender-based pricing system that charges more for items marketed to women than similar or identical products marketed to men.
A reclaimed term sometimes used by members of the LGBTQIA+ community to identify their sexuality or gender, or as an umbrella term to refer to the community as a whole.
The systematic fair treatment of people of all races, resulting in equitable opportunities and outcomes for all. Racial justice initiatives address structural and systemic changes to ensure equal access to opportunities, eliminate disparities, and advance racial equity—thus ensuring that all people, regardless of their race, can prosper and reach their full potential. Racial justice and equity is not achieved by the mere absence of racial discrimination or the perceived absence of harmful racial bias, but rather through deliberate action to dismantle problematic and build positively transformational systems – action must be carried through with the conviction, commitment and dedication of advocates.
A subset of values, beliefs, and behaviors in a society the trivializes or normalizes sexual violence, including rape.
The human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, to have children or to not have children, and to parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.
Often associated with care giving and domestic housework roles including cleaning, cooking, child care, and the unpaid domestic labor force. The term has taken on a role in feminist philosophy and discourse as a way of calling attention to how women in particular are assigned to the domestic sphere, where the labor is reproductive and thus uncompensated and unrecognized in a capitalist system.
Reproductive rights are usually defined as “pro-choice,” meaning abortion should be legal, safe, and affordable for any woman who desires it. As it relates to sexual reproduction, reproductive rights advocates believe that women should have the right to control their reproductive functions, decide whether to have children or not, and have access to contraception, family planning, and medical coverage. Advocates believe that such rights are human rights encompassing education about birth control and sexually transmitted infections and freedom from forced sterilization and contraception. They also believe that such rights fall within the realm of the right to privacy where women have freedom from government interference in their lives.
Jane Roe, et al. v. Henry Wade, District Attorney of Dallas County; 1973 case that ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects a pregnant individual’s right to privacy, including whether or not to have an abortion, without excessive government interference.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner; registered nurse or nurse practitioner with specialized training to assist survivors of sexual assault. SANE nurses are only available in some hospital emergency rooms.
The women’s movement of the 1960s and ’70s, the so-called “second wave” of feminism, represented a seemingly abrupt break with the tranquil suburban life pictured in American popular culture. Yet the roots of the new rebellion were buried in the frustrations of college-educated mothers whose discontent impelled their daughters in a new direction. If first-wave feminists were inspired by the abolition movement, their great-granddaughters were swept into feminism by the civil rights movement, the attendant discussion of principles such as equality and justice, and the revolutionary ferment caused by protests against the Vietnam War.
An attitude that views sexual expression and sexual pleasure, if it's healthy and consensual, as a good thing.
Feminists who say prostitution oppresses women and/or do not consider sex work to be real work.
Attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of gender roles.
Discrimination or devaluation based on a person's sex or gender, as in restricted job opportunities, especially such discrimination directed against women.
Umbrella term for any non-consensual touching or sexual activity, including rape and some forms of sexual harassment; legal definitions of sexual assault vary among states and the federal government.
Shaming someone because of their sexual behaviors/desires
Actual sales tax on menstrual products due to their classification as “luxury items”.
The third wave of feminism emerged in the mid-1990s. It was led by so-called Generation Xers who, born in the 1960s and ’70s in the developed world, came of age in a media-saturated and culturally and economically diverse milieu. Although they benefitted significantly from the legal rights and protections that had been obtained by first- and second-wave feminists, they also critiqued the positions and what they felt was unfinished work of second-wave feminism.
Protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Title X Family Planning Program; program established in 1970 through the Public Health Service Act to fund preventative care for millions of low-income Americans. Title X is the only federal grant program dedicated to comprehensive family planning services.
Feminists who are transphobic.
Umbrella term for the community of people whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with the sex assigned to them at birth or the gender binary; additionally, an adjective used to describe someone who is a member of this community.
Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers; any laws that impose burdensome regulations on abortion providers, intentionally making it difficult for clinics to stay open.
Notice of upcoming sensitive content or imagery that might elicit a negative physical and/or mental reaction due to past trauma; related to content warning.
Standard used to determine the legality of state laws restricting access to abortion; defined as a “substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion before the fetus attains viability.”
Violence Against Women Act; subset of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act first passed in 1994 to address domestic violence. VAWA currently provides legal assistance and protections for survivors of abuse, as well as funding for domestic violence shelters, outreach organizations, youth education programs, and a national domestic violence hotline.
When the victim of a crime or harmful act is held fully or partially responsible for it. If you hear someone questioning what a victim could have done to prevent a crime, that's victim-blaming, and it makes it harder for people to come forward and report abuse.
The practice of restricting the voting rights of a person or group of people, or preventing them from exercising their right to vote.
The act of using threats or harassment to interfere with someone else’s right to vote for whom or what they want to; a tactic of voter suppression.
Strategy utilizing anti-democracy tactics to discourage or prevent specific groups of people from voting in an election.
A brand of feminism centered around the ideals and struggles of primarily white women.
The paternalistic lecture given by Whites toward a person of color defining what should and shouldn’t be considered racist, while obliviously exhibiting their own racism.
Women’s Health Protection Act; introduced in 2013, WHPA is current federal legislation that would protect the right to abortion from restrictions impacting both patients and providers, such as six-week bans, 20-week bans, mandatory ultrasounds, waiting periods, and TRAP laws.
Alert to injustice in society, especially racism.
When used as a verb, the word ‘woke’ means the past tense of ‘wake’ – as in someone who is past the process of waking up. There’s a similar logic behind using the word as an adjective in feminist discussion. It basically means being socially and politically aware and knowing what’s going on in the wider community, especially in relation to injustices. The rise in popularity of “woke” has been tied to the #BlackLivesMatter movement, reminding people to be aware of the way race and class affects people’s lives. Today we generally use the word to describe someone who is an informed, questioning, self-educating individual.
The guy who acts like he's all about gender equality, but then turns around and demeans, degrades and harasses women. His misogyny may not always be overt, but it's there. He's a feminist poser.
A political term to unite women from marginalized communities of color who have experienced oppression. It could include women of African, Asian, Latin or Native American descent.
A paradigm shift in the way we look at rape, moving beyond "no means no" toward the idea that consent must be explicit.
