DREAMer

Refers to undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. Those who’ve since become eligible for DACA are also called “DREAMers.”

Druze

As of 2020, there are about one million adherents to the Druze religion worldwide, mostly in Jordan, Israel, Syria, and Lebanon, with approximately 30,000 in the U.S, with the largest American group in California. Druze is a monotheistic religion formed in the 10th and 11th centuries with ties to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It combines Islamic tenets with Greek and Hindu philosophies, and their prophets are Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Mohammed. The most revered religious figure is Jethro, father-in-law of Moses. Though some Druze consider themselves “Muslim,” Druze is not a branch of Islam or a sect; it’s recognized as a separate religion.

The Druze faith hasn’t accepted converts since 1050, and it prohibits marriage outside the faith (find more here). The adherents believe anyone who wanted to join the religion had a chance to do so in the first generation after it was started, and that everyone who is alive today is reincarnated from a previous generation. Proselytizing is not allowed under Druze law. Find more here.

Dusky Maiden

A colonial, racist, sexist stereotype of Polynesian women as “exotic,” passive objects with dark, flowing hair and brown skin. The “dusky maiden” was a common depiction in European colonial paintings that evolved into representations in newer media.

Dwarfism

Per the Mayo Clinic, Dwarfism is short stature that results from genetic or medical condition. Dwarfism is a medical diagnosis. “Dwarf” is the preferred term for many people with Dwarfism . “M-dget” is a derogatory term for Dwarfs and should be avoided. There is a new generation of people with Dwarfism who use the word Dwarf instead of "Little Person." They view Dwarfism as a culture. It should never be dwarves, always Dwarf or Dwarfs.

Dyslexia

A term for disorders that involve difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols.

Emotional Labor

The process of managing feelings and expressions in order to fulfill the emotional requirements of a job. More specifically, when workers have to regulate emotions to shape the minds of superiors, co-workers, and customers. Emotional labor more often falls on BIPOC people, especially women (e.g., swallowing down feelings about a racist or sexist comment so as not to make things awkward for another individual, having to fake positivity to placate a customer).

Endosex

The opposite of intersex; someone who possesses innate physical sex characteristics (e.g., hormones, genitals, reproductive organs) that match binary concepts of female or male bodies.

Enslaved Person vs. Slave

Today, most historians refer to “enslaved people” instead of “slaves.” This language choice separates a person's identity from his/her circumstance. Likewise, saying “owner” or “master” empowers enslavers and dehumanizes enslaved persons, reducing them to commodities rather than someone who had slavery imposed on them. Using “enslaved” instead of “slave” and “enslaver” instead of “master” are subtle but powerful ways of affirming that slavery was forced upon someone, rather than an inherent condition. - Telling the Story: Enslavement of African People in the United States.

For more affirming language to use when writing about slavery, check out Writing About Slavery? This Might Help

Fa'afafine/Fa'afatama

Samoa has historically and continues to recognize four cultural genders: man, woman, fa'afafine, and fa’afatama. Fa’afafine people are assigned male at birth, and this term translates to “in the manner of a woman.” Fa'afatama people are assigned female at birth, and this term translates to “in the manner of a man.” Both fa'afafine and fa'afatama people move fluidly between traditional man and woman gender roles and don’t fit neatly into western concepts of gay, trans, or queer. In Samoa, fa'afafine and fa'afatama people tend to take on community caregiver roles for elders and educate men and women about sex, a topic considered taboo for those genders. Note: When living in another country or visiting other states that don't have the same cultural genders, people with these identities may code-switch and call themselves trans women, trans men, non-binary, or gay in order for their identity to be legible to others. For more.

Fakaleitī

A Tongan “third gender” used to describe someone who was assigned male at birth but who has a feminine gender expression. The term translates to “like a lady.” Fakaleitī is one of many culturally specific genders represented across the Pacific Islands and around the world. Note: When living in another country or visiting other states that don't have the same cultural genders, people with this identity may code-switch and call themselves trans women, gay men, or non-binary in order for their identity to be legible to others. For more on the fakaleitī identity, here is a personal account.

Family of Origin

Biological parents, siblings, extended family, and caregivers. (Note: Biological parents are sometimes called “birth parents” or “first parents” but should never be referred to as “real parents,” a term that is offensive and invalidating.)

Femme

Used to describe someone who exhibits feminine identity (e.g., physical appearance, clothes, behavior). To some, “femme” should only be used to describe LGBTQIA+ people and is understood as an identity that subverts traditional femininity (i.e., not synonymous with being a straight and/or cis woman). For more.

Femmephobia

Discrimination or hostility toward someone who's perceived to embody or express femininity (including effeminate gay men). Femmephobia can come from both cishet and queer people, often rooted in internalized homophobia and toxic masculinity. More on the effects of femmephobia here.

Filipinx/Filipino

As noted on VICE, whether one identifies as Filipinx or Filipino is an ongoing debate for people of Philippine origin or descent, sparking discussions on identity, colonialism, and the power of language.

In September 2020, Dictionary.com released the word “Filipinx,” meant as an alternative to the “Filipino” and “Filipina” binary terms used to describe those living or who have origins in the Philippines and living in the U.S. Some, mostly those who grew up in the Philippines, argue that “Filipino” is already a gender-neutral term because the Filipino language itself doesn’t differentiate between genders. Meanwhile, others, mostly from the large Filipino diaspora, say “Filipino” and “Filipina” are sexist, holdovers from the gendered Spanish that influenced the country’s languages. The debate is highlighting differences between generations, cultures, and nations.

Foster Care Adoption

A form of adoption where a child is placed with a foster family/parent with the expectation that the child will become available to be adopted by that same family/parent, after a court has terminated the parental rights of the child’s guardian(s).

Free Association

A free relationship between a political territory (maybe with some degree of statehood) and a nation. It is a somewhat “middle ground” status where associate states can maintain sovereignty and delegate other responsibilities to the major nation (e.g., financial assistance, defense, currency) under individual compacts. Current “associated states” include Cook Islands and Niue with New Zealand, and Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau with the U.S.

Gay

Men who are only or predominantly sexually, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to other men, and boys who are attracted to other boys. This includes all men and boys: transgender, intersex, and cisgender. Some non-binary people who are predominantly attracted to men also identify as gay. “Gay” is a sexual orientation, an embodied part of a person’s identity, no matter their relationship status or sexual/romantic experience.

Note: “Gay” can also be used to describe people of other genders who aren’t straight (e.g., some women prefer “gay” to “lesbian”).

Geisha

Japanese women who entertain through performing the ancient traditions of art, dance, and singing. Unfortunately, Western portrayals wrongly stereotype geisha as submissive and docile and, sometimes, as sex workers. The geisha girl stereotype is similar to the “Lotus Flower” and “China Doll” depictions.

Gender Binary

The false, long-held societal and cultural categorization of gender into just two distinct and opposite terms: male or female, man or woman, masculine or feminine. Attached to this classification are gendered traits, behaviors, and appearances attached to these distinctions (e.g., men should be strong, aggressive, and wear masculine clothes; women should be kind, domestic, and wear make-up and feminine clothes). The binary generally assumes someone’s gender identity and pronouns all align with the sex they were assigned at birth. However, gender isn’t binary; it’s an infinite spectrum, with people whose gender identities fall between and outside of the man/woman framework.

Gender Dysphoria

Psychological distress that can occur when a person’s assigned sex at birth and gender identity are not in alignment. Both psychiatric and medical authorities recommend individualized medical treatment with use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and/or surgeries to treat gender dysphoria, so the necessity of gender dysphoria as a psychiatric diagnosis remains controversial. Note: It’s not necessary to have gender dysphoria in order to be transgender. For more on gender dysphoria, here is a personal account.