Revised & Edited by: Stefani Blazevic, Victoria Krstev
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InfloHR Ltd. created the Human Resources Glossary Canadian Edition. It is critical to be mindful of all the different challenges someone may face daily within the Canadian market. To do so, we must look at different perspectives and be willing to adapt and learn.
This glossary can never fully be complete because as society evolves, so will the terms used. Inflo HR Ltd. is not claiming to be an expert in any of the topics covered below. There has been extensive research and considerations throughout the creation process. Readers are encouraged and welcome to provide feedback.
We hope you learn more about this area, and if there is anything to add, please do not hesitate to reach out directly at info@inflohr.com
Gay
Initially used for men attracted to other men. It is now often used to describe Sexualities and romantic relationships to other people in the queer community.
Lesbian
A Lesbian is someone who identifies as a female or feminine leaning person who is attracted to other women or people that have feminine traits.
Bisexual
Originally was defined as romantic attraction to men and women. Now it is best described as someone who is attracted to two genders.
Pansexual
A person who identifies as pansexual can have an attraction to anyone regardless of their gender.
Asexual
A person who identifies as asexual is a person who wants to have a romantic relationship with someone. However, they do not have sexual attraction or desires.
Demisexual
A person who identifies as demisexual only experiences sexual attraction after first forming a strong emotional or romantic bond.
Queer
The term queer used to be a slur. Some people of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community (depending on their comfort level) have chosen to reclaim the term. Queer can have multiple meanings such as:
Aromantic
Individuals who do not experience romantic attraction toward individuals of any gender(s).
Aroace
It can be used for any individual who identifies with both spectrums—for example, an aromantic asexual or demisexual.
Gender fluid
To move between genders or having a fluctuating gender identity.
Genderqueer
A person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female.
Nonbinary
A person who does not have ties to any specific gender may exhibit traits of genders but not explicitly identify with any gender.
Transgender
A person who identifies as Transgender is someone whose gender is different from the one on their gender marker given at birth. People who identify as Transgender are always the gender they identify as, even if the world did not know it yet.
Intersex
Intersex is an umbrella term for people with variations in sex characteristics that don’t fit neatly in the binary of male or female. Some intersex people are born with varying reproductive anatomy or sex traits — some develop them later in life.
Agender
A person who does not identify themselves as having a particular gender.
Bi-gender
Gender identity and comes from the word “bi” meaning “two genders” or “double-gender.
Demiboy
Someone who partially, but not wholly, identifies as a man, boy, or otherwise masculine. They may or may not identify as another gender in addition to feeling partially male.
Demigirl
Someone who partially, but not wholly, identifies as a woman, girl, or otherwise feminine. They may or may not identify as another gender in addition to feeling partially female.
Greygender
A person who identifies as, at least partially, with an identity outside the gender binary and has a strong natural ambivalence about their gender identity and gender expression.
Neutrois
Is a gender identity characterized by gender neutrality, such neutrality, or neutral gender, is often translated as indifference towards gender.
Two-Spirit
It refers to a person who identifies as having both a masculine and a feminine spirit and is used by some Indigenous people to describe their sexual, gender, and spiritual identity.
Third Gender
It refers to people do not identify as male or female, but rather as neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders. This term is often used in Indigenous communities.
Neopronoun (aka neo-pronoun, noun-self pronoun,
A form of gender-neutral third-person pronoun used in place of he, she, it is used by some non-binary people.
Examples: xe/xem/xyr, ze/hir/hirs, and ey/em/eir.
Binary pronouns
These are the pronouns that individuals use when they identify in the gender binary.
Examples: He/Him and She/Her
2SLGBTQIA+
QPOC
QPOC is an acronym for Queer People of Color used in the UK and Canada. Another similar acronym is QTIPOC which stands for Queer, Transgender, and Intersex People of Colour.
Womxn
Womxn is a term sometimes used to replace the word “Women” to get away from patriarchal language. Womxn is also meant to include trans women and some non-binary people, but it is not always accepted. Some say the word has evolved and is divisive, and “women'' is more inclusive in the LGBTQ+ community.
Gender identity
Gender refers to how a person views themselves and interacts with others. A person can identify as male, female, on a spectrum between these, or neither.
Gender Expression
How a person expresses their gender identity, typically through their appearance, dress, and behaviour.
Sex
The biology of their anatomical characteristics. Until recently, a common belief was that a person’s sex could only ever be female or male. However, it is understood that people can be born with variations of both male and female sex characteristics as well as neither.
Sexuality or sexual orientation
Refers to someones romantic or sexual attraction to another person
On the Spectrum
On the spectrum refers to someone on the Autism spectrum or with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).
Asperger’s Syndrome
It is a condition on the autism spectrum that affects how people communicate and interact with others. People with Asperger’s can function highly and may not have learning disabilities associated with other types of autism.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech, and nonverbal communication.
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (sometimes referred to as ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder) means that a person has difficulty with attention span, activity levels, and impulsive actions.
Tourette’s Syndrome
A condition that generally starts in childhood. It affects the brain and nerves, causing people to have involuntary, motor, or vocal tics.
Barrier
Anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society because of their disability. Including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or a practice.
People-first language
It describes what a person “has” rather than saying what a person “is” (e.g., “person with a disability” vs. “disabled”).
Safe Space
A place people can be comfortable expressing themselves without fear as it relates to their cultural background, biological sex, religion, race, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental ability.
Addiction
A condition that leads to a compulsive engagement with stimuli, despite the negative consequences experienced. Addictions can be substance-related, such as opioid addiction or alcohol addiction, as well as process-related — such as problem gambling.
Mental health
It is based on physical, social, and mental factors; they all contribute to our mental health. It’s important to note that someone can have a mental illness but have excellent mental health! Likewise, someone may not have a mental illness but have poor mental health.
Mental health concern
Is a concern held by the individual due to a perceived deficit in mood or thought that is distressing but has not necessarily been present for an extended period.
Substance misuse
The harmful use of substances for non-medical purposes, potentially leading to addictions — such as Binge Drinking.
Prohibited Grounds of discrimination
There are 17 prohibited grounds for discrimination. This means that a person is protected under the Human Rights Code of Ontario and the Canadian Human Rights Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-6).
List of prohibited grounds
Ableism
The practices of dominant attitudes by a society that devalues or limit the potential for people with disabilities. Ableism is the act of giving inferior value or worth to people who have different types of disabilities (physical, emotional, developmental, or psychiatric).
Oppositional Sexism
Oppositional Sexism is the belief that femininity and masculinity are rigid and exclusive categories.
Oppression
Oppression refers to systemic and institutional abuse of power by a dominant or privileged group at the expense of targeted, less privileged groups.
Prejudice
To pre-judge or negatively affect one type of person or group because of stereotypes or generalizations.
White supremacy
Is a historically based, institutionally perpetuated system of exploitation and oppression of continents, nations, and peoples of colour by white peoples and nations of the European continent; to maintain and defend a system of wealth, power, and privilege.
Racism
Racism is the oppression of people of colour based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that gives privilege to white people.
Stereotype
An over-generalized belief about a particular group or category of people. A Stereotype represents the expectation that something is true about every member of that group.
Unconscious Bias
Unconscious Bias, also known as Implicit Bias, refers to attitudes or stereotypes about certain groups, often based on mistaken or inaccurate information.
Misgender
To refer to someone using a word (especially a pronoun or form of address) that does not correctly reflect the gender with which they identify.
Implicit Bias, or hidden bias
Attitudes or stereotypes that unconsciously affect a person’s understanding, actions, or decisions related to people from different groups.
Homophobia
To have an irrational fear or intolerance of people who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Heteronormativity
The assumption is that heterosexuality is natural, ideal, or superior to other sexual preferences.
Transphobia
Transphobia (or transphobic) means fear, hatred, or discrimination towards people who identify as Transgender.
Marginalization
To exclude, ignore, or relegate a group of people to an unimportant or powerless position in society.
Microaggression
The daily behaviour (verbal or nonverbal) that communicates hostile or negative insults towards a group, intentionally or unintentionally, particularly culturally marginalized groups.
Xenophobia
Prejudice or a dislike for people from other countries.
Conflict Fluency
A set of essential knowledge and skills that allow individuals to identify, work through, and de-escalate conflict as it naturally emerges in the context of their life and work.
This skill set includes:
Diverse Groups / Diverse Students / Diverse Populations
The entire collection represents the full array of characteristics present within a group of people.
Equality vs Equity
Equality means that each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
Conflict Engagement
Conflict engagement is a broad umbrella term that includes conflict resolution, conflict management, conflict intervention, conflict investigation, conflict exploration, and conflict transformation – recognizing that there is a time and place for each.
Inclusion
Inclusion is an active, intentional, and continuous process to address inequities in power and privilege and build a respectful and diverse community that ensures welcoming spaces and opportunities to flourish for all.
Racial Identity Development Theory
Discusses how people in various racial groups and with multiracial identities form their particular self-concept. It also describes some typical phases in remaking that identity based on learning and awareness of systems of privilege and structural racism, cultural, and historical meanings attached to racial categories, and factors operating in the more significant socio-historical level (e.g. globalization, technology, immigration, and increasing multiracial population).
Workforce Diversity
A group of employees with similarities and differences like age, cultural background, physical abilities and disabilities, race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. During which era was the term workforce diversity first used? Workforce Diversity came into the business scene in the early 1980s.
Work-Life Effectiveness
Work-Life Effectiveness is a talent management strategy that focuses on doing the best work with the best talent regardless of the diverse aspects of individuals.
Workplace inclusion
An intentional effort to create an atmosphere of belonging where all parties can contribute and thrive regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.
Ally
People who advocate for individuals from underrepresented or marginalized groups in a society.
Allyship
It is the process in which people with privilege and power work to develop empathy towards advancing the interests of an oppressed or marginalized outgroup. The goal of allyship is to create a culture in which the marginalized group feels supported.
Cisgender
A cisgender individual is a person that is comfortable with the gender marker they were given at birth.
Indigenous
Indigenous People is a term used to identify ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area, also known as First People in some regions.
Metis
Métis is a French word that refers to someone with mixed ancestry. Métis is a common term referring to a multi ancestral indigenous group whose homeland is in Canada and parts of the United States between the Great Lakes region and the Rocky Mountains.
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Online Resources
Courses
We curated these definitions based from:
References
