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Washington State Glossary for Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces

Welcome to the 4th version of the Glossary for Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces, previously known as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging glossary!

The intent of this glossary is to provide state employees with a compilation of equity-related terms and their meanings. When we have a shared vocabulary and agree on the meaning of the words we use, we are better able to collaborate across departments, teams, and the communities that we serve.

Words carry meaning, power, and impact. It is important that we understand the meanings, recognize the power, and demonstrate reflection, continual learning, and accountability for the impact of the words we use in Washington State government. It is also important to understand that the human beings who are educating us about these terms are living the identities and experiences described in this glossary.

Because people are continually evolving, the words we use to describe them need to evolve as well. This resource is meant to support the work of improving access, advancing equity, and eliminating systemic racism and other forms of oppression from the work we do. This is not meant to serve as a primary resource in any specialized area such as law, medicine, or academia.

Thank you to the Washington State Business Resource Groups, the Washington State DEI Council Glossary Workgroup, The Department of Health, Department of Enterprise Services, Office of Equity, OFM Communications for your hard work and dedication to this body of work. The work that was poured into this version will directly impact those who experience disparities, exclusion, and systemic oppression in the workplace. Thanks to your vital contribution to this work our state will have a practical resource guiding us to maintain a growth mindset while affirming and embodying diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and belonging every step of the way.

You may request a Glossary Edit if you would like a term added to or a definition edited in this glossary. Please note that the review committee meets quarterly to review these submissions and is committed to the shared-power process, so these edits make take several months to research and to respond to.

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Termsort descending Definition
Marginalization

The social process of relegating a particular person, groups, or groups of people to an unimportant or powerless position. This use of power prevents a particular person, group, or groups of people from participating fully in decisions affecting their lived experiences, rendering them insignificant or peripheral. Some individuals identify with multiple groups that have been marginalized. People may experience further marginalization because of their intersecting identities.
Meritocracy

A belief that suggests advancement is determined by internal factors, which scholars have defined as hard work, ability, and individual responsibility, as opposed to privilege and other social relationships. 
Microaggression

The everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional acts that any person can commit, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to targeted persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. 

 

 

 
Military Status

A person’s connection to the military in the categories listed below:
• Disabled Veterans – A veteran who is entitled to compensation under laws administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. This includes veterans who would be entitled to disability compensation if they were not receiving military retirement pay instead. Reference: Title 38 U.S.C. Section 4211 (3)
• Military Spouse – Washington state recognizes a military spouse as any person currently or previously married to a military service member during the service member’s time of active, reserve, or National Guard duty. Reference: Executive Order 19-01
• National Guard & Reserve Service – The Armed Forces reserve component includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard of the United States, and the Air National Guard of the United States. The individuals are currently serving in a reserve component capacity contributing to the national security and military readiness. Reference: Title 38 U.S.C. Section 101 (27)
• Special Disabled Veterans – A veteran who is entitled to compensation under laws administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs with a disability rated at 30 percent or more; or a disability rated at 10 or 20 percent in the case of a veteran who has been determined under 38 U.S.C. 3106 to have a serious employment handicap; or a discharge or release from active duty because of a service-connected disability. Reference: Title 38 U.S.C. Section 4211 (1)
• Veteran – Includes every person who has received a discharge or was released from active military service under conditions other than dishonorable or is in receipt of a United States Department of Defense discharge document that characterizes their military service as other than dishonorable. (RCW 41.04.007 & Title 38 U.S.C.).
Misogyny

The dislike of, contempt for, or engraved prejudice against women/females (both cis and trans women), feminine-presenting individuals, and individuals perceived as female regardless of actual gender.
Mobility Device/Mobility Aid

A manually operated or power-driven device designed for use by an individual with a mobility disability for the purpose of locomotion. The equipment is often considered part of the user’s personal space, as an extension of their body, in a similar manner as someone’s limbs. The most common types include: canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, rollators (walkers with four wheels and a seat for when the person is at rest – not for transport), mobility scooters, etc. Note that a disabled individual does not have to experience complete loss of limb use to require a mobility aid. Using someone’s mobility device for one’s own personal pleasure, convenience, enjoyment, or in jest is frequently considered as invasive as the non-disabled individual grabbing the other’s limb and forcing use of it against their permission or will. See Wheelchair User18.

  • 18. A person with a disability who uses the mobility equipment of a wheelchair as part of their personal space to assist them in navigating the world in an equitable manner as those who are able-bodied. The equipment is often considered an extension of their bodies, in a similar manner as someone’s limbs. A wheelchair user does not need to be paralyzed or partially paralyzed to require use of a wheelchair.
Multiply-marginalized

This term refers to people and communities who experience multiple forms of oppression simultaneously, such as queer, disabled, people of color. Related to intersectionality, this term highlights that people who hold multiple marginalized identities can experience unique circumstances that may not be captured by a non-intersectional lens. For example, Kimberle Crenshaw conducted workplace discrimination investigations that revealed intersectionality impacted Black women in ways that were unaddressed by investigating race or gender alone.