MCS 101 Glossary Flashcards

Key Terms in Multicultural Studies

• Ableism: Discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities; it manifests in societal attitudes and policies that privilege able-bodied individuals.

• Anti-Semitism: Hostility or discrimination specifically directed at Jews, targeting them as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.

• Culture of Poverty: A social theory asserting that the behaviors, values, and practices of the impoverished contribute to the persistence of poverty across generations.

• Food Insecurity: A condition characterized by inconsistent access to sufficient, nutritious, and affordable food, impacting health and well-being.

• Gender Norms: Societal expectations dictating how individuals should appear and behave, shaped by their perceived gender identity.

• Gentrification: A process where upgrading of properties in low-income neighborhoods leads to increased property values and displacement of existing residents, altering the community’s socioeconomic landscape.

• Hate Crime/Hate Violence: Criminal actions motivated by bias against a person's actual or perceived identity within a particular group, reflecting prejudice.

• Heterosexism: The belief that heterosexual orientation is the norm, which leads to the marginalization of LGBTQ+ individuals and experiences.

• Homophobia: Prejudice, discrimination, or hostility towards individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, often resulting in social ostracism.

• Internalized Oppression: When members of marginalized groups adopt and act upon stereotypes and negative beliefs about their own group.

• Intersectionality: A framework that examines how social identities (such as race, class, and gender) intersect, creating overlapping systems of discrimination and privilege.

• Islamophobia: Discrimination, hostility, or violence towards individuals who are Muslim or perceived to be Muslim, often based on stereotypes and misinformation.

• Model Minority: An oversimplified stereotype suggesting that a minority group has achieved higher levels of success economically or socially compared to others.

• Nativism: An ideological framework that prioritizes the interests of native-born individuals over those of immigrants, often leading to restrictive policies.

• Oppression: The social exercise of authority or power that imposes unfair restrictions on individuals or groups, leading to inequality and disenfranchisement.

• Patriarchy: A social system where men hold predominant power in institutions and society, leading to gender inequalities.

• Post-Racial: A theoretical period where society is believed to have moved beyond racial discrimination, although its existence is widely debated.

• Prison Industrial Complex: The interrelationship between government and business that uses punitive measures, including imprisonment, as solutions to social upheaval and inequality.

• Racialization: The social process of ascribing racial identities to a group, often leading to stereotyping and systemic discrimination.

• Race: A social construct categorizing people based on shared characteristics, traditions, and social habits; not strictly biological.

• Racism: The belief in the inherent superiority of one race over others, leading to discrimination and prejudice based on perceived racial differences.

• Refugee: An individual forced to leave their country due to conflict, persecution, or other threats, seeking safety elsewhere.

• Sexism: Prejudice or discrimination based on sex, particularly against women; it fosters societal stereotypes regarding gender roles.

• Stereotypes: Oversimplified and generalized beliefs about individuals based on specific characteristics, leading to misunderstandings and biases.

• Trans/Transgender: A term encompassing individuals whose gender identity or expression differs from the sex assigned at birth, highlighting diverse experiences.

• Undocumented/Unauthorized Immigrant: A foreign-born individual residing in the U.S. without legal immigration status, often facing legal and social challenges.

• Xenophobia: Discrimination or hostility directed towards individuals perceived as foreign, often fueled by fear and misinformation.

• White Privilege: The societal advantages that white individuals experience based on their race, encompassing economic, cultural, and social benefits.