Our glossary is still a work in progress. Many of our definitions have been adopted from the Awareness Academy . If you feel something is missing or unclear, feel free to write to us at info@awagraz.org.
Ableism refers to stereotyping and discrimination against people with an actual or presumed disability or chronic illness, where they are reduced to these characteristics. This often leads to biased conclusions about their mental or physical abilities, based on dominant notions of what counts as “normal” and what people should be able to achieve. Ableism manifests as unjustified unequal treatment. Remarks that frame someone as impressive “despite” their disability/chronic illness are sometimes called positive or “uplifting” ableism.
“Ageism” (age discrimination) refers to prejudice or discrimination based on a person’s age. It can affect both younger and older people, with age-based assumptions leading to disadvantage or preferential treatment, for example in the workplace or through negative stereotypes about older people. Ageism often relies on stereotypes that assume people no longer have—or do not yet have—certain abilities or competencies. Ageism directed at children and young people is also referred to as adultism.
Anti-Muslim racism refers to prejudice, discrimination, or hostility toward Muslims or people who are perceived as Muslim. This can also affect non-Muslims when others attribute Muslim identity to them based on their appearance or name. A typical feature of anti-Muslim racism is the conflation of religion with nationality or belonging to a nation-state. It includes patterns of thinking such as “Muslim = migrant,” and then assigns (supposed) Muslims negative traits and behaviors.
Anti-Semitism refers to prejudice, discrimination, and hostility toward Jewish people and communities based on their ethnic and/or religious affiliation. It is important to emphasize that anti-Semitism is not limited to historical contexts but continues to exist in contemporary society. Currently, there is a significant rise in anti-Semitic crimes. Anti-Semitism can take various forms, including Christian anti-Semitism, Islamist anti-Semitism, Israel-related anti-Semitism, and racial or National Socialist (Nazi) anti-Semitism.
Antiziganism describes racism against Sintizze, Romnja (inclusive spellings of Roma and Sinti) and others who are referred to or discriminated against as “Gypsies,” or who were persecuted and killed under National Socialism. The word “Gypsy,” which most Sintizze and Romnja reject as a racist label, is embedded in the term “Antiziganism” itself. This is meant to emphasize that antiziganist beliefs are not about actual individuals, but about long-standing cultural stereotypes.
The term Antiziganism is problematic, as it is derived by the racist word “Gypsy”. It is still used by us (and by Sintizze and Romnja) to highlight and illustrate the projections imposed by the majority society.
“Awareness” means recognizing the inequalities that arise from different experiences and/or social positions, as well as from societal power relations. This awareness helps to better understand, respect, and acknowledge people’s differing privileges, resources, and experiences of discrimination. In the context of event organization, awareness concepts can be used to address discrimination and boundary-violating behavior, thereby creating a safer and more appreciative space for all participants.
Disability is used as an umbrella term for many very different deviations from a society’s ideas and expectations of “normality.” Disability is defined as the interaction between individual physical, mental, psychological, or sensory impairments and societal, environmental, and attitudinal barriers.
BIPoC stands for “Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.” It is a positive self-designation used to describe a broad group of people who are not white and who share experiences of racism as those affected by it. The use of “BIPoC” emphasizes that experiences of racism and discrimination differ even within non-white groups, and highlights the specific challenges faced by Black and Indigenous people. The related term “PoC” also refers to people who are not perceived as white, German, or Western, but does not explicitly include Black and Indigenous people.
People have different emotional and physical boundaries. The concept of power of definition (Definitionsmacht) assumes that (sexualized) violence is anything a person affected defines or names as such. What constitutes discrimination or a boundary violation is determined by the affected person. The focus is on those affected, not on the person who discriminated or used violence. What happens after a boundary violation or discrimination should be guided by the wishes and needs of the affected person. This concept aims to create a safer space and represents active solidarity.
Discrimination is the unjust treatment or disadvantage of an individual or group based on certain personal characteristics such as ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, sexual identity or orientation, age, or other characteristics (such as social background or chronic illness). Discrimination can occur in all areas of life and in many different ways, for example in the workplace, educational institutions, housing, or access to goods and services. It can take place on individual, institutional, discursive, and structural levels.
The term diversity can refer both to the variety within a group of people and to the diversity of an individual. Diversity primarily focuses on similarities and differences between people, for example in terms of culture and socialization, background, language, sexual identity, gender identity, religion, age, or abilities.
In an organizational context, diversity can be understood as a strategy involving various measures that help create equal opportunities and a sense of belonging for everyone in the organization, while at the same time reducing discrimination and barriers.
Feminism is a social and political movement that advocates for gender equality. Its goal is to eliminate discrimination based on gender, overcome stereotypical gender roles, and ensure that women have the same rights and opportunities as men. While feminism has made progress over time, the movement continues to work toward overcoming gender inequality.
Gender refers to “social gender” and stands in contrast to biological sex. Social gender describes the culturally constructed aspects of gender, that is, characteristics that are commonly considered typically female or typically male within a given culture.
Refers to people who, through their actions, cause physical and/or emotional harm to another person or group.
Heteronormativity refers to the assumption that heterosexuality and a binary gender order constitute the social norm. This perspective assumes that only two genders exist and that relationships and sexual orientations between men and women are the dominant and accepted form, with women positioned as subordinate to men. Heteronormativity marginalizes other sexual orientations and gender identities and tends to frame them as deviations.
Heteronormative values influence gender roles that are taught to children from a very early age. Gender nonconformity or challenging traditional gender roles is often met with discrimination. Actively addressing and dismantling heteronormativity in all areas of society is essential and calls for critical reflection to foster a more inclusive and equitable society.
Intersectionality refers to how different aspects of identity combine to influence experiences of discrimination. It highlights that discrimination is not based on just one characteristic, but on the interaction of multiple identities. For instance, a gay person from a working-class background encounters different challenges than one from an academic background, and a Black woman faces different forms of discrimination than a Black man.
Means striving to consider everyone’s needs. Those involved take part in an open and transparent process to find a mutual agreement. Consent helps people reflect on and communicate their personal and sexual needs, boundaries, and wishes. In sex, consent requires a clear and active yes—not just a lack of refusal.
LGBTQIA* is a collective term for people who are marginalized because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. The letters represent:
- L: Lesbian
- G: Gay/Gay
- B: Bisexual
- T: Transgender
- Q: Queer, or Questioning (questioning, and exploring)
- I: Intersex
- A: Asexual
- *: Stands for diversity, and may include additional identities
Using the acronym “LGBTQIA*” is intended to encompass a wider spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations and to better reflect the diversity of the LGBTQIA* community. It also allows people to identify with and/or express solidarity with the community, while emphasizing that LGBTQIA* people often share comparable experiences of discrimination.
Microaggressions are subtle, often everyday remarks, actions, or behaviors that convey discrimination or disrespect. They frequently target people from marginalized groups based on factors such as ethnicity, gender, or religion. The metaphor “mosquito bites” is sometimes used to illustrate how microaggressions work: like small bites, they may seem minor on their own, but they can be uncomfortable, persistent, and add up over time to cause significant harm. Raising awareness and acting consciously are key to creating a more inclusive and respectful environment.
Privilege describes an advantage or preferential treatment that a person or group receives because of certain characteristics or circumstances, while others are denied these benefits. Privileges operate on multiple levels and are not only about material wealth or property. Social power and status linked to traits like skin color, gender, or age can unfairly create access to opportunities that should be equal for all. Those who hold such privileges are often unaware of them.
“Queer” is a term many people use to describe themselves when their sexual orientation or gender identity does not fit heteronormative norms. Once used as an insult, the term has been reclaimed and now serves as an umbrella for diverse non-traditional identities. Its meaning can vary depending on personal and cultural context: some embrace it as a positive self-label, while others reject it. Respect for how individuals choose to identify is therefore crucial.
Racism describes prejudiced attitudes, discrimination, or hostility toward people because of their ethnic background. It is based on the assumption that some groups are superior to others. Racism can be explicit, but it can also appear in subtle or unconscious ways, resulting in ongoing inequality and systematic exclusion in different areas of society.
Combating racism requires an awareness of prejudice, education and training on diversity and equality, as well as measures at the individual, institutional and societal levels, to combat discrimination and promote an inclusive society.
Safe Spaces refer to (physical) spaces designed to offer a protected environment for marginalized groups. Some Safe Spaces are created for specific communities, such as BIPoC, queer people, or people with disabilities, while others are open to multiple groups. These spaces aim to allow participants to feel comfortable and free from discrimination. The term Safer Space recognizes that absolute safety can never be fully guaranteed.
Sexism describes discrimination based on perceived or assigned gender. It is linked to gender stereotypes and social expectations, with men generally holding a privileged position and women being most affected. Sexism can appear on an individual and structural level, through language, social rules, and in extreme cases through direct violence such as sexual assault, harassment, or degrading behavior.
Sexualized violence refers to any sexual act that is forced on someone without their consent. It represents violence, aggression, and an abuse of power rather than sexual desire. It includes behaviors ranging from sexual harassment and rape of adults to the sexual abuse of children.
The term “sexualized” highlights that sexual acts are used to exert power and violence. Sexualized violence includes unwanted touching, sexual harassment, the unsolicited display of pornographic content, sexual remarks, and extends to sexual abuse, sexual coercion, and rape. Unnecessary physical contact, unwanted sexual comments, as well as remarks or jokes about employees’ appearance are also classified as sexual harassment. In contrast to harassment, creating a hostile environment is not a required condition.
Structural discrimination describes the unequal treatment of certain groups that is built into the organization of society itself. Rooted in social, political, cultural, and economic systems, it leads to ongoing and systemic disadvantages for particular groups.
Transphobia describes prejudice, discrimination, and violence against trans* people—people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. It can manifest as verbal attacks, social exclusion, legal inequality, or physical violence. The term trans hostility is often favored over transphobia because it does not downplay the issue by portraying it merely as fear.