These dynamics are but a few examples of the privilege which straight people have. This exercise is from the National Juvenile Defender Center website Photo Credit: Joadl on Wikimedia Commonsĭaily effects of straight and cisgender privilege: This article is based on Peggy McIntosh’s article on white privilege. Queer is an umbrella term used proudly by some people to defy gender or sexual restrictions. Please note that transgendered is not acceptable term to use as it implies that something happened to the person to make them transgender. Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. Transphobia is an irrational fear and/or hatred and/or intolerance of people who are trans, perceived to be trans, or who cross societal gender norms. Trans is an umbrella term for a person whose gender identity does not match society’s expectations of someone with their physical sex characteristics.
Gender/Gender Identity is how we perceive our identity as male, female, both, neither, regardless of our physical bodies. lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual, etc.).Ĭisgender/Cissexual/Cis is a person whose gender identity matches society’s expectations of someone with their physical sex characteristics.Ĭissexism is a harmful beliefs that being non-trans is the only acceptable and “natural” form of gender expression. Sexual orientation is how a person identifies whom they are emotionally, romantically, and/or sexually attracted to (e.g. Homophobia is fear, anger, intolerance, resentment, or discomfort with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people, often focused inwardly as one begins to question their own sexuality. Heterosexual is a medical definition for a person who is attracted to someone with the other gender (or, literally, biological sex) than they have often referred to as “straight”. Heterosexism is a behaviour that grants preferential treatment to heterosexual people, reinforces the idea that heterosexuality is somehow better or more “right” than queerness, or ignores/doesn’t address queerness as existing. Gay or Lesbian is a person who has emotional, romantic or sexual attraction for people of the same sex. feeling attracted to both men and women). I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems. Understand the daily effects of straight and cisgender privilegeīefore we begin there are a few terms we need to share:īisexual a person who has emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction for people of more than one gender (e.g. White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.Learning Objectives–At the end of this module, you will be able to: