Definitions
Culture -- A system or domain from which we gather our roots and form our norms, meanings, and basic assumptions. Culture helps shape how we think, feel, act, and perceive ourselves and the world around us. Among other factors, culture can be rooted in our nationality, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, job type, language, education, age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and place of employment.
Cultural generalizations — The tendency of a majority of people in a cultural group to hold certain values and beliefs, and to engage in certain patterns of behavior (from Drs. Janet and Milton Bennett). Cultural generalizations can serve as a useful tool in starting to work with groups and individuals from backgrounds different from your own, as long as the generalizations are accurate, kept at a group level, viewed on a continuum, neutral, used only as a starting point, and modified.
Individual discrimination — Unfair treatment of a person or group, on the basis of prejudice. Acts of individual discrimination often can be dealt with by either removing the person who discriminates from any position where such actions are having an effect, or by inducing the person to halt the behavior in question.
Institutional discrimination — An embedded pattern of discrimination built into the organizational structure itself. Institutional discrimination can occur regardless of the desires or intentions of the people perpetuating it. Consequently, one must not ask what the motives are of the individuals involved but the results of their actions are. Institutional discrimination can easily be seen statistically. If a particular group is disproportionately absent in comparison to the pool of those possessing the relevant skills, discrimination is occurring even if it is impossible to document specific acts of individual discrimination. Because institutional discrimination is built into the normal working relationships of institutions, its perpetuation requires only that people continue “business as usual.”
Intercultural sensitivity -- How one tends to respond and react to cultural difference.
Intercultural competency -- One’s ability to interact effectively and appropriately in a variety of cultural contexts. Intercultural competency requires knowledge, motivation, and skills.
Prejudice — An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand, or without knowledge or examination of the facts.
Racism — The systematic subordination of members of certain racial groups (Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asians) who have relatively little social power in the United States, by the members of the racial group that has more social power (whites). This subordination is supported by the actions of individuals, by cultural norms and values, and by the institutional structures and practices of society.
Social identity groups — Groups that experience power and privilege differently in society, based on shared characteristics (whether real or perceived). In the United States, these groups often are defined by gender, ability, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and social class. How other people define a person’s social identity may be different from how that person views their own social identity. For example, golfer Tiger Woods identifies himself as biracial (Asian and African American), while many people in the United States regard him as African American.
Stereotypes -- Characteristics we ascribe to individuals who are seen as members of a group, whether or not the characteristics are actually present in the individuals. Stereotypes are based on the information that we have in our heads about the group, work as an endpoint, and are rigidly adhered to.
Systemic advantage or systemic privilege -- A collection of unspoken, unacknowledged benefits that come to a person through no virtue of their own but that are made to look normal and available to any person who wants them. These benefits are often invisible to those who receive them and clearly visible to those who don’t. (from White Men as Full Diversity Partners®)
Culture -- A system or domain from which we gather our roots and form our norms, meanings, and basic assumptions. Culture helps shape how we think, feel, act, and perceive ourselves and the world around us. Among other factors, culture can be rooted in our nationality, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, job type, language, education, age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and place of employment.
Cultural generalizations — The tendency of a majority of people in a cultural group to hold certain values and beliefs, and to engage in certain patterns of behavior (from Drs. Janet and Milton Bennett). Cultural generalizations can serve as a useful tool in starting to work with groups and individuals from backgrounds different from your own, as long as the generalizations are accurate, kept at a group level, viewed on a continuum, neutral, used only as a starting point, and modified.
Individual discrimination — Unfair treatment of a person or group, on the basis of prejudice. Acts of individual discrimination often can be dealt with by either removing the person who discriminates from any position where such actions are having an effect, or by inducing the person to halt the behavior in question.
Institutional discrimination — An embedded pattern of discrimination built into the organizational structure itself. Institutional discrimination can occur regardless of the desires or intentions of the people perpetuating it. Consequently, one must not ask what the motives are of the individuals involved but the results of their actions are. Institutional discrimination can easily be seen statistically. If a particular group is disproportionately absent in comparison to the pool of those possessing the relevant skills, discrimination is occurring even if it is impossible to document specific acts of individual discrimination. Because institutional discrimination is built into the normal working relationships of institutions, its perpetuation requires only that people continue “business as usual.”
Intercultural sensitivity -- How one tends to respond and react to cultural difference.
Intercultural competency -- One’s ability to interact effectively and appropriately in a variety of cultural contexts. Intercultural competency requires knowledge, motivation, and skills.
Prejudice — An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand, or without knowledge or examination of the facts.
Racism — The systematic subordination of members of certain racial groups (Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asians) who have relatively little social power in the United States, by the members of the racial group that has more social power (whites). This subordination is supported by the actions of individuals, by cultural norms and values, and by the institutional structures and practices of society.
Social identity groups — Groups that experience power and privilege differently in society, based on shared characteristics (whether real or perceived). In the United States, these groups often are defined by gender, ability, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and social class. How other people define a person’s social identity may be different from how that person views their own social identity. For example, golfer Tiger Woods identifies himself as biracial (Asian and African American), while many people in the United States regard him as African American.
Stereotypes -- Characteristics we ascribe to individuals who are seen as members of a group, whether or not the characteristics are actually present in the individuals. Stereotypes are based on the information that we have in our heads about the group, work as an endpoint, and are rigidly adhered to.
Systemic advantage or systemic privilege -- A collection of unspoken, unacknowledged benefits that come to a person through no virtue of their own but that are made to look normal and available to any person who wants them. These benefits are often invisible to those who receive them and clearly visible to those who don’t. (from White Men as Full Diversity Partners®)