Inclusive Language
The common phrase "ladies and gentleman", which is often used to address a group should be replaced with this gender neutral phrase.
What is "everyone" or "folks"
A person who is called out/in about an error should do this immediately.
What is apologize and correct themselves/ask how to do better?
The systemic oppression and prejudice based on race. It encompasses individual discrimination, institutional policies, and historical power dynamics that negatively affect marginalized groups.
What is racism?
This policy ensure all new programs, services, and initiatives in Fairfax County are created with equity in mind.
What is the One Fairfax Policy?
This identity relates to a lack of stable housing.
What is unhoused person / person experiencing homelessness?
Used in casual conversation to mean "let's meet" or "let's have a discussion," this two-word phrase is considered a cultural appropriation because it trivializes a significant Native American social and spiritual gathering.
What is "Pow Wow"?
These five strategies—Direct, Distract, Delegate, Delay, and Document—are recognized methods for safely intervening to prevent or stop harassment.
What is bystander intervention
Attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner, often contradicting our stated beliefs.
What is implicit/unconscious bias?
A Deaf library visitor who wants to attend a program may request an ASL interpreter. Requesting an ASL interpreter is an example of what?
What is a reasonable accommodation?
This is the officially preferred and more inclusive term for a restroom designed for people with physical needs.
This action involves using your own privilege to highlight, support, and amplify the voices of marginalized colleagues, rather than talking over them in meetings.
What is amplification; passing the mic?
The everyday, often unintentional, verbal or behavioral slights against members of marginalized groups.
What is a microaggression?
This library branch specializes in serving library customers with disabilities, who may be homebound, who have low vision, or may need extra support accessing media.
What is Access Services?
These identities and groups have historically been excluded from full access, power, participation, and representation in society.
What are marginalized identities?
This is the term that emphasizes the individual over their condition, using phrases like "person with a disability" or "individual with autism" to foster dignity and reduce stigma.
What is person first language?
This action is often a first step to privately bring attention to an error, especially when the intention behind the harm is assumed to be unintentional.
Calling In
Adding to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, this final "B" in DEIB represents a person's psychological safety and feeling of being truly valued.
What is belonging?
This library-wide workgroup helps plan core celebration/heritage months, drafts the Equity Impact Plan, and offers guidance on cultural programming, among many other things.
What is the DEI(B) workgroup?
A framework that analyzes how various social and cultural identities interact on multiple levels.
These are small, intentional actions or comments that show care, respect, curiosity, and affirmation, especially towards members of marginalized groups. These are also considered the antidote to microaggressions.
What is a microaffirmation / what are microaffirmations?
This is the term for a thorough assessment of a library's collection to evaluate how well it represents diverse perspectives and experiences.
What is a "diversity audit"?