Gender equity definitions

2SLGBTQ+  - An acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Two-Spirit, Queer, and additional identities. There are many variations of this acronym.

A

Ableism - Discrimination in favour of able-bodied people.

D

Discrimination - Discrimination refers to bad treatment based on a characteristic like gender.

E

Empower - Make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights.

F

Feminist - A person who supports feminism, which is defined as the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.

G

Gender - Gender refers to socially and culturally constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and trans people. One example of a gender role is that boys may be expected to play with trucks and girls with dolls. The ways people think about gender change over time and are different across cultures. Often people’s sex and gender match up, but many people identify as a gender that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Gender Affirming Surgery - Gender-affirming surgeries change primary or secondary sex characteristics so that they correspond with one’s gender identity. 

H

Homophobia - Prejudice against individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirited.

R

Reconciliation - The Province works with First Nations community leaders and Indigenous organizations to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal people through new economic partnerships, resource development revenue sharing, and closing gaps in health, education, skills training, and employment.

S

Systemic discrimination - practices or attitudes that have, whether by design or impact, the effect of limiting an individual’s or a group’s right to the opportunities generally available because of attributed rather than actual characteristics.

SOGI -  Acronym for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, which is an inclusive term that represents all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

T

Transgender - An umbrella term that describes a wide range of people whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth.

Two Spirit People - A 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. (definition used with permission from Battered Women’s Support Services).