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Creating Space Creating Space is about prioritising time for self-care, personal growth, and connection with ourselves and others - which we all need to do more of, in an effort to preserve our energy and reach our full potential. See: Burnout & Voice. < Back to Glossary

Faith Belief in the teachings of a religion. Having a faith can be a powerful anchor in life that gives believers a sense of purpose and contentment. See: Belief, Religion and Spirituality. < Back to Glossary

Person of Colour (POC) Someone who does not consider themselves to be white. ​ < Back to Glossary

Cancel Cancel culture or call-out culture is a phrase contemporary to the late 2010s and early 2020s used to refer to a form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those subject to this ostracism are said to have been "cancelled". ​ < Back to Glossary

Calling In Addressing someone privately and making them aware that something they’ve said/done is not acceptable and perhaps suggest how they could change their behaviour. This is a good first resort for gently asking someone to modify their behaviour, especially if it was a mistake and they were unaware. While it can be tempting to call out someone for their actions, this should really only be a last resort after several attempts to call them in. Individuals are much less likely to take on valid criticism if they feel attacked while receiving it, and while it is not our responsibility to protect the feelings of people who are causing hurt to others, we can create a more productive conversation by approaching with empathy and compassion. Here are some calling-in examples: - "Could you elaborate on what you meant by [insert statement, process, or word you want to understand]? I want to understand your perspective better." - "I value your intentions and would like to discuss how your words/actions impact me/others. Can we have a constructive conversation about this?" - "I understand your point of view, but I think we can explore this issue more deeply. Let's revisit [insert word or statement] and consider other perspectives." - "Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic. I’d like to add to the conversation by discussing how we can improve our diversity efforts. For instance..." - "You mentioned that this process has been successful in the past. How can we build on that success while also being more inclusive? Let's brainstorm some ideas together." Calling Out < Back to Glossary

Virtue Signalling The action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue. ​ < Back to Glossary

Gay Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 19th century, that meaning became increasingly common by the mid-20th century. ​ < Back to Glossary

IVF In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of several techniques available to help people with fertility problems have a baby. During IVF, an egg is removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg, called an embryo, is then returned to the woman's womb to grow and develop. ​ < Back to Glossary

Masking Masking in psychology and sociology is the process in which an individual "masks" or camouflages their natural personality or behaviour to conform to social pressures, abuse or harassment. ​ < Back to Glossary

Gillick competence A term originating in England and Wales used in medical law to decide whether a child is able to consent to their own medical treatment, without the need for parental permission or knowledge. This term carries particular importance when thinking about those who wish to transition under the age of 16. ​ < Back to Glossary

Transgender A transgender person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex or gender assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they sometimes seek to alleviate through transitioning, often adopting a different name and set of pronouns in the process. See: Transition. < Back to Glossary

Altruism Altruism is the principle and moral practice of concern for the welfare and/or happiness of other human beings or animals. ​ < Back to Glossary

Decolonise The active and intentional process of unlearning values, beliefs and conceptions that have caused physical, emotional or mental harm to people through colonisation. It requires a recognition of systems of oppression. See: Colonialism. < Back to Glossary

Growth “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” - John Maxwell. Our experiences are never static, and we are always going through a constant state of flux; but how we learn from and manage that change informs our opportunity for growth. Everything that we go through shapes us as humans. Personal growth is the act of developing as an individual. The term can be used to describe personal development in several areas including mental, physical, and emotional health. These areas are often interlinked and the ultimate aim of each personal growth goal will be to enrich all areas of your life. See: Confidence, Community, Belonging, Compassion and Empathy. < Back to Glossary

Assimilation Assimilation is the process in which a minority group or culture comes to resemble a society's majority group or assume the values, behaviours, and beliefs of another group whether fully or partially. An example of assimilation in that Queer People could be seen as changing their behaviour depending on who they're facing. This is often at the expense of one's own culture and identity. For queer folks, assimilation can mean subsuming or erasing their queer or racialized identity to fit into heteronormative society. It can often look like internalised homophobia, racism, or transphobia, which keeps us closed in and conforming to societal norms at the expense of our own authentic selves. Here are examples of assimilation: - Avoiding holding hands with a partner in public to avoid negative reactions from others. - Changing ones appearance or behaviour to conform to gender norms. - Choosing not to come out to one's family and friends for fear of rejection. - Pretending to only have relationships with the opposite sex to avoid discrimination. - Avoiding talking about ones sexuality or gender identity at work to avoid judgement or discrimination. - Suppressing aspects of their cultural identity to avoid discrimination or rejection from others. See: Code-switching. < Back to Glossary

Bottom Surgery A colloquial term used in the trans community to refer to gender affirmative surgeries on the genitals. Bottom surgery is often important for trans people to feel like their gender identity is aligned with their physical body. ​ < Back to Glossary

Femininity Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviours, and roles generally associated with women and girls. Femininity can be understood as socially constructed, and there is also some evidence that some behaviours considered feminine are influenced by both cultural factors and biological factors. ​ < Back to Glossary

Transandrophobia Discrimination against trans men and trans-masculine people. ​ < Back to Glossary

Incentive Something that motivates or encourages us to make positive change. ​ < Back to Glossary

Incarceration The state of being confined in prison. ​ < Back to Glossary