Inclusivity
Be a better ally
Vocabulary
IRL Libraryland
Identities in our community
100

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"

100

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?

100

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?

100

This policy ensure all new programs, services, and initiatives in Fairfax County are created with equity in mind.

What is the One Fairfax Policy?

100

This identity relates to a lack of stable housing.

What is unhoused person / person experiencing homelessness?

200

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"?

200

These five strategies—Direct, Distract, Delegate, Delay, and Document—are recognized methods for safely intervening to prevent or stop harassment.

What is bystander intervention?

200

Attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner, often contradicting our stated beliefs.

What is implicit/unconscious bias?

200

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?

200

The acronym LGBTQ(IA2S) stands for what identities? 

What are the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, (Intersex, Asexual, 2 Spirt) identities?

300

This is the officially preferred and more inclusive term for a restroom designed for people with physical needs.

What is an accessible bathroom?
300

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?

300

The everyday, often unintentional, verbal or behavioral slights against members of marginalized groups. 

What is a microaggression?

300

This library branch specializes in serving library customers with disabilities, may be homebound, have low vision, or may need extra support accessing media. 

What is Access Services?

300

These identities and groups have historically been excluded from full access, power, participation, and representation in society. 

What are marginalized identities?

400

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?

400

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?

400

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?

400

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?

400

A framework that analyzes how various social and cultural identities interact on multiple levels, created by scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw.

What is "Intersectionality"?

500

Any of these actions are ways to combat biases.

What is:

Know and recognize biases; be mindful of words and actions.  Think critically and consider other perspectives.  Challenge assumptions and the way things have always been done; ask why & why not.  

500

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.

What is calling in?

500

Also known as "Isms", these systems create advantages for dominant groups while disadvantaging marginalized communities.

What are systems of oppression?

500

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"?

500

Privilege does not mean a person has not experienced this, only that their life was not made harder by certain systemic factors.

What is struggle or hardship?

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