Dictionary
The Intersectionality Dictionary explores how language shapes our understanding of power, identity, and justice. Terms like intersectionality, privilege, or decolonization are widely used yet often misunderstood or stripped of their historical roots. This evolving resource goes beyond simple definitions: each entry traces a concept’s origins, examines its theoretical foundations, and reflects on how it appears in public debate today. By approaching words critically, the dictionary reveals the histories and power relations they carry. Designed to be accessible without oversimplifying, it helps students, educators, activists, and curious readers engage more thoughtfully with complex ideas—because understanding the language of power is a step toward challenging and transforming it. ✨
You can check out our dictionary by researching a word or browse the alphabet index.
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Housewifization
Traditional gender roles and division of labor have existed since the beginning of human civilization. The development of technology, war, and colonialism conquest expeditions…
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Neurotypical (Neuromajority)
Every brain is different. Neurodiversity includes all forms of neurocognition, as it describes the range of neurocognitive variations across humans (Walker, 2021; Emergent Divergent,…
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Neurodiversity
The term Neurodiversity frames the cognitive and emotional properties characteristic of developmental disorders within the natural expression of human diversity (Masataka, 2017). Highlighting the…
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Gender-Based Violence
Across all social classes, races, ages, religions, and national borders, gender-based violence (GBV) is a major public health and human rights concern (Sanjel, 2015;…
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Androsexual
Androsexuality refers to people who are attracted to masculinity. An androsexual (or androphilic) person might be attracted to anyone with masculine qualities regardless of…
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Tone Policing / Tone Argument
The act of dismissing or reducing someone’s argument based on the way it is expressed, the attitude, the tone used, or the emotions expressed…
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Bourgeoisie
Marxist theory is based on the concept that society is divided into two groups that directly face each other: the bourgeoisie, meaning the middle…
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Austerity Policies
Austerity policies involve reducing domestic wages and prices in order to restore competitiveness with other sectors and balance the government’s budget (Blyth, 2015). The…
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Reproductive Rights
Reproductive rights are the legal and social rights related to reproduction and reproductive health, which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is defined…
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Racialized Beauty Standards
Racialized beauty standards are rooted in racial hierarchies that shape mainstream societal perception of beauty. While diminishing those belonging to non-white ethnic groupings, mostly…
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Intersectionality
Intersectionality is an analytical framework a term that was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw (1989) in response to the need to expose how Black women,…
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Data Activism
Data has become an increasingly important aspect of our lives as we use more technology every day. Data activism uses technology and data to…
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Inspiration Porn
Inspiration porn is the representation of disability as inspiration, by objectifying the person with a disability for the benefit of the abled group. In…
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Xenocentrism
Xenocentrism is the term used to describe consumers’ preference for foreign goods over domestic ones, and it is typically motivated by the belief that…
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Gendered Ageism
Ageism refers to negative stereotyping and discrimination based on age (Butler, 1969), while gendered ageism targets older people at the intersection of age and…
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Body Liberation
Influenced by Black feminism, disability justice, and queer theory, Body Liberation frames the body as a site of resistance against oppressive societal narratives. Not…
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Pink Tax
The umbrella term “pink tax” describes various financial inequalities based on gender. In different contexts it may refer to: 1. The gender wage gap,…
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Aromantic
Aromantic is a romantic orientation that describes those with little to no romantic attraction. The term can be used to describe a specific lack…
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Yes Means Yes
‘Yes Means Yes’ refers to the affirmative consent campaign surrounding sexual violence adopted by policymakers, activists, and educators. Affirmative consent requires a verbal, consensual,…
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White Silence
White Silence takes place when White people avoid speaking up about racial inequalities, such as when witnessing discriminatory behaviours or during conversations about race.…
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Asexual
Asexual is a sexual orientation referring to those who experience little or no sexual attraction to others. Asexuality can be referred to on its…
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Gynosexual
Gynosexuality, also gynesexuality, is a sexual orientation that describes an attraction to femininity. It is used interchangeably with gynophilia/gynephilia, meaning the love of femininity.…
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Fatphobia
Fatphobia refers to the fear, hatred, and loathing of fat bodies (Stoll et al., 2022). While fatphobia is used more commonly, terms such as…
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“Toxic” Masculinity
Toxic masculinity refers to a perspective that takes behaviors, traits, and norms considered traditionally and stereotypically masculine to an extreme (Edwards, 2020). These socially…
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Queer Theory
Queer Theory is a multifaceted lens that allows exploring how heteronormativity and the homo/hetero binary shape various aspects of our society and personal lives.…
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Queer
Queer is a term used to express a spectrum of sexual orientations and gender expressions that oppose the mainstream. Due to that, Queer portrays…
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Pansexual
Pansexuality refers to the sexual connection or attraction to people regardless of their gender or sexual identity. Gender and sex are not driving forces…
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Demisexual
Demisexuality refers to experiencing sexual attraction or arousal after developing an emotional connection with someone. The term is often found within, but not limited…
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Cisgender
Cisgender, often shortened to “cis,” describes individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth, such as someone assigned male…
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Kink
Kink refers to unusual, unconventional sensual, erotic, or sexual practices, behaviors, or fantasies when viewed by a socially normative, “vanilla” perspective (Rehor, 2015; Van…