A list of terminology we employ here at NWF that may not already be in your vocabulary.
cis: adj. A cis person identifies with the gender he or she was assigned at birth. A trans person does not. Read more
fat acceptance: n. A movement helmed primarily by women writers who self-identify as fat and which challenges the validity of the discrimination experienced by individuals deemed "overweight." Read more
genderqueer: adj. Describes individuals who feel that they fall in between/outside of the socially constructed-but-fictional gender binary of "man" or "woman." Genderqueer people might not identify with any gender, or with different genders at different times, or with more than one gender. Read more
queer: adj. A reclaimed word used to describe individuals with non-normative sexual and/or gender identities. Said individuals may include, but are not necessarily restricted to, those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, asexual, or in other ways "queer" in their gender identity or sexual orientation. It is often not used to just refer to sexual orientation because, often, people whose gender expression does not suit the heteronormative dictates will identify with "queer" regardless of the gender of their partners. In other words, the boys who act "like girls" and girls who act "like boys," according to oppressive heterosexist assumptions, might identify with queer (see also "genderqueer," above). The term "queer" also has political significance. While it makes some people uncomfortable because of its historic association with bigotry and hatred, for many queer people, it signifies a rejection of normative genders and sexualities, and is empowering. Many queer people embrace and identify with the term because it is so provocative (for similar reasons, some people identify as "dyke" or "homo" or other similar laden terms, because it can be empowering to reclaim and provoke).
rape culture: n. A set of beliefs and behaviors that normatizes and excuses rape and other forms of sexual assault. Read more
