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Pronouns A pronoun is a word that is used instead of a noun (e.g. I, you, he, she, it, this, that, they, them). Pronouns referring to a person can be linked to someone's gender identity. It's important to ask someone their pronouns rather than guessing based on what they look like. Or use gender-neutral ones (they/them). See: Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Gender Attribution and Misgender. < Back to Glossary

Fetishisation Fetishization can be thought of as the act of making someone an object of sexual desire based on a specific feature or some aspect of their identity. < Back to Glossary

Needs A physiological or psychological requirement for the well-being of an organism. In other words, a need is something that you can’t be okay without. This can range from food and water to human contact and socialization. The reason it's important to understand and satisfy our needs is because we feel emotional, and sometimes physical, pain when they're not being met. You may be in pain and not know why or which needs are not being fulfilled. When our needs are met, we feel happy, grateful, safe, loved, playful, alert, and calm. < Back to Glossary

Resilience Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioural flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands. A number of factors contribute to how well people adapt to adversities, predominant among them: - the ways in which individuals view and engage with the world - the availability and quality of social resources - specific coping strategies Psychological research demonstrates that the resources and skills associated with more positive adaptation (i.e., greater resilience) can be cultivated and practiced. See: Creating Space, Self-Care and Wellbeing. < Back to Glossary

Patriarchy A system of society or government in which men hold the power. Patriarchy is practiced systemically in the ways and methods through which power is distributed in society (jobs and positions of power given to men in government, policy, criminal justice, etc.) while also influencing how we interact with one another interpersonally (gender expectations, sexual dynamics, space-taking, etc.). Patriarchal structures facilitate male privilege. < Back to Glossary

Post-Traumatic Growth In psychology, Post-traumatic growth is a concept describing positive psychological change experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging, highly stressful life circumstances. See: Adversity, Growth and Resilience. < Back to Glossary

Story-telling Storytelling is essential because of its central role in human experience, culture, and history since the dawn of humankind. Storytelling stimulates our brain in a unique way, as we connect with the message we not only absorb the information but feel the emotion too. We all have unique life experiences and stories to tell. Sharing our stories with others can provide opportunities for learning, insight, understanding and connection. The wisdom of others can also be an essential tool in helping us learn more about ourselves. < Back to Glossary

Closeted / 'In the closet' A somewhat dated term used to describe a person who is not heterosexual, or not cisgender, who is choosing not to disclose their sexuality or gender identity to those around them. It is important to acknowledge that it is an individual's right to choose who they disclose personal information to, or how they choose to disclose it. < Back to Glossary

Spirituality Spirituality is a broad term used to describe systems of faith or sacred beliefs. People who have their own unique belief system or one that pulls elements from various organised religions or traditions may describe themselves as "spiritual". < Back to Glossary

Transmisogynoir Discrimination that falls at the intersection of transphobia, misogyny and anti-black racism, as experienced by Black trans women and trans feminine people. < Back to Glossary

Elected Official Elected Officials are individuals which have the power to make true change within our government and legislative structures. We vote for people based on how they align with our own personal values, and how they plan to instill these values and use their positionality (proximity to power) in the seat / office / policy area that they occupy. Often, Elected Officials hold the key to positive cultural and legislative change. However, these individuals who promise a lot can often be disappointing in terms of their actions to liberalised, once they have been positioned within an institution. See: Power and Positionality. < Back to Glossary

Same-sex A same-sex relationship is a romantic or sexual relationship between people of the same sex. Same-sex marriage refers to the institutionalised recognition of such relationships in the form of a marriage; civil unions may exist in countries where same-sex marriage does not. < Back to Glossary

Bodily Autonomy Bodily autonomy is the right to make decisions about your own body. The bodily autonomy of women and trans people is often targeted politically through legislation that targets abortion rights and gender transition. It is essential that we have the final say on decisions about our bodies. < Back to Glossary

PrEP Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is medicine taken to prevent getting HIV. PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV when taken as prescribed. < Back to Glossary

Calling Out A way of addressing problematic language and behaviour. When you call someone out, you issue a direct challenge to something they’ve said or done, usually in public. If an individual is unresponsive and doesn’t change their behaviour after someone has ‘called them in’ a few times, then this is when one would raise an issue to colleagues/people they work with (as a last resort). < Back to Glossary

Neutrois Someone who identifies with a neutral or no gender identity. This is similar or may overlap with people who identify as agender. See: Agender, Non-Binary < Back to Glossary

Whole A sense of completeness and unity, that you are not missing anything, broken or incomplete. Your acceptance of all the pieces of yourself is what makes you whole. You know yourself more fully, see the big picture, and put things into perspective. You free up energy that was spent holding down unpleasant thoughts or feelings. You tune into your body, your mind, your soul, and your heart. < Back to Glossary

AAVE AAVE is a way of speaking typically seen in African American and Black Canadian Communities. AAVE may be considered a dialect, ethnolect or sociolect. While it is clear that there is a strong historical relationship between AAVE and earlier Southern U.S. dialects, the origins of AAVE are still a matter of debate. (See: Black and Blaq/Blaqueer) < Back to Glossary

Body Shaming The action or practice of humiliating someone by making mocking or critical comments about their body shape or size. Body shaming most-often takes place with one person inflicting shame on another, however, it can also be an internalised thought. < Back to Glossary

Connection "Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued." - Brené Brown. We all desire human connection; whether it's romantic or platonic. Connection between people is key for us to discover more about our own identities, values and passions. Our connection with ourself can also have a profound effect on our confidence and how we show up in service of others. (see Belonging & Community). < Back to Glossary