Definitions of Equity鈥慏eserving Groups
The definitions below are those used by 麻豆传媒资源 University in relation to self-identification through recruitment and in the university census. We recognize that language is used differently in different contexts and changes over time.
Indigenous Persons
The original inhabitants of Turtle Island, which includes North, Central America, and the Caribbean, along with their descendants. This broadly includes Inuk (Inuit), First Nations, and M茅tis, each with distinct languages, cultures, and traditions that vary by Nation, language group, and region.
The university is committed to building deep and meaningful partnerships with Indigenous Peoples across Canada. This commitment is especially true of our relationship with the Mi鈥檏maw, Wolastoqey, and Peskotomuhkati nations on whose territories the university resides.
惭颈鈥檏尘补辩
惭颈鈥檏尘补辩 are the predominant Indigenous peoples and the original inhabitants of the Atlantic Provinces and beyond including Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and parts of New Brunswick, and Quebec.鈥疺isit the 麻豆传媒资源 Indigenous Strategy for more information.
Persons of Black/African Descent
Persons of African descent and/or those who identity as part of the African鈥痙iaspora, the collection of African-descent communities spread throughout North and South America. In the United States the term African American is used, in Canada Black-Canadian or African-Canadian is often used.
African Nova Scotians
African Nova Scotians are a distinct people who descend from free and enslaved Black planters, Black loyalists, Black refugees, Maroons and other Black people who inhabited the original 52 land-based Black communities in that part of Mi鈥檏ma鈥檏i known as Nova Scotia. Please see the 听 for more information.
Racialized Persons
Racialized persons are people (other than Indigenous persons) who are non-white, regardless of their place of birth or citizenship. (Sometimes referred to as 鈥渞acially visible鈥� or 鈥渧isible minority鈥�).
Examples:
- Persons of African ancestry (Black)
- African Nova Scotian
- East Asian (e.g., Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean)
- South Asian (e.g., Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Sri Lankan)
- South-East Asian (e.g., Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, Malaysian, Filipino/a)
- Non-white West Asian or Arab (e.g., Iranian, Afghani, Lebanese, Egyptian, Iraqi, Armenian, Israeli.)
- Non-white Latin, South, Central American or Caribbean
- 惭耻濒迟颈谤补肠颈补濒听
Persons with Disabilities
People who have a chronic, long-term or recurring physical, sensory, mental, learning or intellectual impairment, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders that person鈥檚 full and effective participation in society. This includes, but is not limited to, people whose functional limitations due to their impairment have been accommodated in their workplace (ex: by the use of technical aids, changes to equipment or other working arrangements).
Examples of groups of persons with a disability:
- Coordination/dexterity (e.g. cerebral palsy)
- Blind/visual impairment
- Speech Impairment
- Non-visible physical impairment (e.g. hemophilia)
- Developmental/mental impairment (e.g. Down鈥檚 Syndrome)
- Mobility impairment (e.g. need to use a wheelchair)
- Learning disability (e.g. dyslexia)
- Deaf/hearing impairment
- Psychiatric impairment (e.g. severe depression)
Women
Persons identifying as women.听
2厂尝骋叠罢蚕滨础+听
An acronym for Two-Spirit (2S), lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual with the 鈥�+鈥� representing the diversity of ways people choose to self-identify their gender identity and sexual orientation. The placement of Two-Spirit (2S) first is to recognize that Indigenous Peoples are the first peoples of this land, and their understanding of gender and sexuality precedes colonization.听
- 2S (also Two-Spirit or Two-Spirited): term used within some Indigenous communities, encompassing sexual, gender, cultural, and/or spiritual identity. This umbrella term was created in the English language to reflect complex Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. This term may refer to cross, multiple, and/or non-binary gender roles; non-heterosexual identities; and a range of cultural identities, roles, and practices embodied by Two-Spirit peoples.
- L/ Lesbian: commonly used in reference to women whose sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction are to other women.
- G/ Gay: commonly used in reference to men whose sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction are to other men; may also be used to indicate a person of any gender whose sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction are to others of the same gender.
- B/ Bisexual: commonly used in reference to those who have sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction to more than one sex or gender.
- T/ Transgender (also 鈥榯rans鈥�): umbrella term used in reference to a wide range of people whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth, a broad term relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their assigned sex at birth.
- Q/ Queer: used in reference to those who identify as anything not fitting cultural norms around gender identity, expression, 听and/ or sexuality.
- I/ Intersex: a person who is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy and/or chromosome pattern that does not seem to fit typical definitions of male or female. Differences may be related to genitalia, secondary sex characteristics, chromosomal make-up, hormonal receptivity, and may or may not be visible at birth.
- A/ Asexual: commonly used in reference to those who do not experience sexual desire for people of any gender. Some asexual people desire romantic relationships, while others do not. Asexuality can be considered a spectrum, with some asexual people experiencing desire for varying types of intimacy.
Sources of 2SLGBTQIA+ terminology:
[Government of Canada]
[Trans Care BC]听