Concept Library
Definitions of DEIB
The term diversity encompasses all the ways in which people differ from one another. This includes, but is not limited to, social identities such as racial and ethnic identity, gender, sexuality, nation of origin, age, language, ability, and religious/non-religious identities. This can also include additional dimensions, sometimes referred to as ‘achieved identities,’ such as veteran status, socioeconomic status, and marital status, and differences like personality, learning styles, or life experience(s). The University of Kansas recognizes that individuals have multiple intersecting identities which holistically impact their lives, experiences, and perspectives.
Adapted from Staff Senate D&I Committee. Original authors: Tiphani Dixon, Marissa Marshall, and Kristopher Oliveira.
The term equity is used to describe the establishment of fair and unbiased access to resources, programs, and opportunities for both participation and advancement for all people regardless of identity or group membership. Equity is both a process and an outcome. From a process perspective, equity is achieved by making systemic changes to structural barriers by developing and implementing procedures and processes through a socially conscious and social justice-oriented lens that seeks to address historical imbalances in power, representation, and access. From an outcome's perspective, equity is achieved through a fair distribution of resources, opportunities, and evidence of support for the most vulnerable communities at the intersections of protected characteristics. Equity efforts may also include programs and services that address trauma, truth, and reconciliation activities.
Adapted from Staff Senate D&I Committee. Original authors: Tiphani Dixon, Marissa Marshall, and Kristopher Oliveira.
The term inclusion describes the active, intentional, and ongoing creation of an environment that is welcoming to any individual or group, so that they are celebrated, respected, and supported. In an inclusive environment, difference (be it cultural, social, intellectual, generational, neurological, varying mobilities, etc.) is seen as an opportunity for engagement and connection that can increase self-awareness, knowledge, empathy, and understanding. Inclusion is achieved when individuals of all identities are active contributors to the community. Inclusion requires an awareness of biases that must be addressed and diminished with intent. We also acknowledge the ways in which inequities are embedded in space, laws, curricula, and procedures that must be addressed inclusion practices.
Adapted from Staff Senate D&I Committee. Original authors: Tiphani Dixon, Marissa Marshall, and Kristopher Oliveira.
Within the context of higher education, sense of belonging refers to an individual's (student, staff, or faculty) perceived social support on campus, a feeling of connectedness, and an experience of feeling accepted, respected, and valued both by one's peers and within the broader campus community.
Adapted from Terrell L. Strayhorn’s book College Students’ Sense of Belonging.
The Value of Belonging at Work
The term intersectionality is used here to reference the interconnected nature of identities, both group and individual, which creates “overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage” as theorized by Patricia Hill Collins and Kimberlé Crenshaw. Intersectionality recognizes that aspects of identity cannot be understood or treated as separate. All aspects of one’s identity are informed and impacted by one another, placing individuals as the nexus of multiple systems of privilege and oppression.
The term diversity encompasses all the ways in which people differ from one another. This includes, but is not limited to, social identities such as racial and ethnic identity, gender, sexuality, nation of origin, age, language, ability, and religious/non-religious identities. This can also include additional dimensions, sometimes referred to as ‘achieved identities,’ such as veteran status, socioeconomic status, and marital status, and differences like personality, learning styles, or life experience(s). The University of Kansas recognizes that individuals have multiple intersecting identities which holistically impact their lives, experiences, and perspectives.
Adapted from Staff Senate D&I Committee. Original authors: Tiphani Dixon, Marissa Marshall, and Kristopher Oliveira.
The term equity is used to describe the establishment of fair and unbiased access to resources, programs, and opportunities for both participation and advancement for all people regardless of identity or group membership. Equity is both a process and an outcome. From a process perspective, equity is achieved by making systemic changes to structural barriers by developing and implementing procedures and processes through a socially conscious and social justice-oriented lens that seeks to address historical imbalances in power, representation, and access. From an outcome's perspective, equity is achieved through a fair distribution of resources, opportunities, and evidence of support for the most vulnerable communities at the intersections of protected characteristics. Equity efforts may also include programs and services that address trauma, truth, and reconciliation activities.
Adapted from Staff Senate D&I Committee. Original authors: Tiphani Dixon, Marissa Marshall, and Kristopher Oliveira.
The term inclusion describes the active, intentional, and ongoing creation of an environment that is welcoming to any individual or group, so that they are celebrated, respected, and supported. In an inclusive environment, difference (be it cultural, social, intellectual, generational, neurological, varying mobilities, etc.) is seen as an opportunity for engagement and connection that can increase self-awareness, knowledge, empathy, and understanding. Inclusion is achieved when individuals of all identities are active contributors to the community. Inclusion requires an awareness of biases that must be addressed and diminished with intent. We also acknowledge the ways in which inequities are embedded in space, laws, curricula, and procedures that must be addressed inclusion practices.
Adapted from Staff Senate D&I Committee. Original authors: Tiphani Dixon, Marissa Marshall, and Kristopher Oliveira.
Within the context of higher education, sense of belonging refers to an individual's (student, staff, or faculty) perceived social support on campus, a feeling of connectedness, and an experience of feeling accepted, respected, and valued both by one's peers and within the broader campus community.
Adapted from Terrell L. Strayhorn’s book College Students’ Sense of Belonging.
The Value of Belonging at Work
The term intersectionality is used here to reference the interconnected nature of identities, both group and individual, which creates “overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage” as theorized by Patricia Hill Collins and Kimberlé Crenshaw. Intersectionality recognizes that aspects of identity cannot be understood or treated as separate. All aspects of one’s identity are informed and impacted by one another, placing individuals as the nexus of multiple systems of privilege and oppression.
Common Questions
The term intersectionality is used here to reference the interconnected nature of identities, both group and individual, which creates “overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage” as theorized by Patricia Hill Collins' and Kimberlé Crenshaw. Intersectionality recognizes that aspects of identity cannot be understood or treated as separate. All aspects of one’s identity are informed and impacted by one another, placing individuals as the nexus of multiple systems of privilege and oppression.
- Video - The Urgency of Intersectionality By Kimberle Crenshaw Ted Talk
- What is intersectionality, and what does it have to do with me?
The National Association of Colleges and Employers provides a free organization assessment around diversity and inclusion.
Harvard’s Self Assessment is a tool for you to help inventory your own biases around a myriad of different social identities.
An ally will mostly engage in activism by standing with an individual or group in a marginalized community. An accomplice will focus more on dismantling the structures that oppress that individual or group—and such work will be directed by the stakeholders in the marginalized group. Learning for Justice.
Understanding Social Identities
Psychologist Henri Taijfel developed “Social Identity Theory”, where he defines social identity as a person's sense of who they are based on their group memberships. Social identities determine the ways we see ourselves and how others perceive us with respect to major social categories (gender, sex, race, sexual orientation, class status, etc.). Scholars, especially those who study diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, assert that systems of oppression rely on power dynamics associated with real and perceived social identity group membership.
Social Identities
A social identity is both internally constructed and externally applied, occurring simultaneously. Educators from oneTILT define social identity as having these three characteristics:
- Exists (or is consistently used) to bestow power, benefits, or disadvantage.
- Is used to explain differences in outcomes, effort, or ability.
- Is immutable or otherwise sticky (difficult, costly, or dangerous) to change.
Resources
Ageism is discrimination against an individual strictly based on their age.
Video - The Harmful Effects of Ageism:
Podcast - The Takeaway - Ageism in the Workplace: What Can We Do?
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a person with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity.
- Disability Models: Eugenics, Medical, Charity, Social, and Radical
- Video: Intersectionality & Disability
- KU Research-Based Guide for How To Write About People with Disabilities (9th edition)
- Guidelines for Writing about People with Disabilities
- Ask a Self-Advocate: The Pros and Cons of Person-First and Identity-First Language
- University of Kansas Audio-Reader
LGBTQ+ is an acronym that refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning individuals and/or communities. The plus (+) symbol denotes that there are more identities not included in that acronym. This umbrella term encompasses identities which describe individuals’ gender identity, gender expression, and romantic and/or sexual attraction/non-attraction. You may encounter longer versions of the acronym, such as LGBTQIA or LGBTQIA+, that include additional identities such as intersex, asexual, aromantic, etc.
Nationality, in law, membership in a nation or sovereign state. It is to be distinguished from citizenship (q.v.), a somewhat narrower term that is sometimes used to denote the status of those nationals who have full political privileges.
Don't ask where I'm from, ask where I'm a local TED Talk video: Taiye Selasi - Don't ask where I'm from, ask where I'm a local TED Talk video
Privilege: Privilege operates on personal, interpersonal, cultural and institutional levels and gives advantages, favors and benefits to members of dominant groups at the expense of members of targeted groups.
Power: Institutional Power is the ability or official authority to decide what is best for others. The ability to decide who will have access to resources. The capacity to exercise control over others.
Race is a social construction that groups people based on physical or social characteristics that society has deemed a distinct group. Ethnicity is also socially defined but focuses more on shared culture, language, history, religion, traditions, and more. Generally speaking, individuals within the group determine their ethnicity, rather than race which is usually externally imposed on individuals.
There are many religious and spiritual practices around the world. Learn more about the practice and non-practice of religion and spirituality.
"Sex" refers to biological differences between females and males, including chromosomes, sex organs, and endogenous hormonal profiles. "Gender" refers to socially constructed and enacted roles and behaviors which occur in a historical and cultural context and vary across societies and over time.
Socioeconomic status refers to the social standing or class of an individual or a group. This position is usually dependent upon a combination of social and economic factors that affect access to education and other resources crucial to an individual's upward mobility. Classism is defined as prejudices against or in favor of people belonging to a particular social class, resulting in their social or economic status being a determinant of their value in society.
Article with Videos - Classism
Video - CrashCourse on Class Inequality