Diversity Terminology Study Guide

Sociology Diversity Terminology

 Ableism-The determination of an individual’s abilities based on his or her disabilities; any policy or practice promoting the belief that disabled people are inferior to able bodies persons to justify discrimination against people with disabilities.
 Affirmative Action- Positive efforts to recruit minority group members or women for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities.
 Ageism- Prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of age.
 Agnostic-A belief that human beings cannot prove or disprove the existence of God.
 Anglo Conformity-Views the values, norms, and standards of the United States as an extension of English culture because the English were the dominant group during the colonial era and when the new nation was emerging.
 Anti-Semitism- Anti-Jewish prejudice.
 Atheist-Believing that God does not exist.
 Bias-A preference or inclination, favorable or unfavorable, that inhibits impartial judgment.
 Bigotry-Extreme negative attitudes leading to hatred of a group and persons regarded as members of the group.
 Classism-An attitude, action, or institutional structure that subordinates or limits a person on the basis of his or her low socioeconomic status.
 Cultural Pluralism-The equal coexistence of diverse cultures in a mutually supportive relationship within the boundaries of one nation.
 Culture- The totality of learned, socially transmitted behavior.
 Disabled-Restricted in functional ability and activity caused by an impairment.
 Discrimination-Actions or practices carried out by a member or members of dominant groups, or their representatives that have a differential and negative impact on a member or members of subordinate groups.
 Diversity-The presence of human beings with perceived or actual differences based on a variety of human characteristics.
 Equal Educational Opportunities Act- The EEOA of 1974affirms that no state shall deny educational opportunity based