Important terms

In everyday life, when people are reduced to their physical or mental disability or, for example, a learning difficulty and are treated unequally, this is called ableism.
In other words, people with disabilities are reduced by non-disabled people to the characteristics that differentiate them from the supposed “normal state.” These can be visible or invisible traits, such as a wheelchair or a mental illness.
From these traits, without knowing or speaking to the person with a disability, assumptions are made about what the person supposedly can or cannot do, or how they feel – and they are treated accordingly. This unequal treatment is a form of discrimination.

The term ableism is the translation of the English word “ableism,” which itself is made up of “to be able” and the suffix “-ism.” The suffix “-ism” appears in many words that indicate a fundamental attitude toward something.

Drawing on right-wing populist and conservative theories, and as a counter-movement to feminism, supporters of anti-feminism disparage the emancipatory demands and achievements of women and queer people. They deliberately ignore the fact that there is a historically and culturally shaped power imbalance between men, women, and queer people—an imbalance that feminist movements seek to challenge and dismantle with their demands. For example, they view gender quotas as a disadvantage to men, without acknowledging that such positive measures are intended to offset other, less visible mechanisms of discrimination.

Antisemitism is based on a double distinction. The “we” group is first distinguished from other “peoples,” states, nations, “races,” identities, cultures, or religions. In antisemitic logic, these entities are always understood as essential, unified, and harmonious communities. “The Jews” are then positioned as the opposing principle to these communities. Through stereotyping, “the Jews” are blamed for all unsettling and negatively perceived aspects of political, economic, and cultural modernization processes, and are accused of threatening and “undermining” these imagined original communities. From this follows a belief in a world divided into good and evil, in the influence of hidden forces, and in conspiracies - core elements of antisemitism. Since “the Jews” in this logic represent a personified threat, antisemitism also involves the reversal of victims and perpetrators, as well as the discrimination - and, ultimately, extermination - of people labeled as “Jews.” Antisemitic stereotypes serve to justify such discrimination. Key forms of antisemitism include: Christian antisemitism, racist antisemitism, secondary antisemitism, Israel-related antisemitism, Nazi-comparative antisemitism, anti-Zionist antisemitism, and Islamist/Islamized antisemitism.

 

People who identify as asexual feel little or no sexual attraction to others. This does not mean that they do not have deep relationships or emotions. Many asexual people maintain close friendships, romantic bonds, or platonic partnerships - often without a sexual component.

The term bisexuality usually means that a person is attracted to both women and men. However, it can also signify attraction to multiple genders, both romantically and/or sexually, thereby including a broader spectrum of gender diversity .

Discrimination is a demeaning act and a violation of the dignity, rights, and freedoms of an individual, which are inviolable under the German Basic Law. Specifically, people are disadvantaged, insulted, excluded, treated poorly, or treated differently because of certain characteristics. This also includes derogatory comments or jokes.

Characteristics of Discrimination:

There are various characteristics that can lead to discrimination. For example, single mothers are often disadvantaged when looking for a job. Fathers who want to take parental leave and people with illnesses such as HIV also face disadvantages and exclusion. The following characteristics often lead to discrimination; some are prohibited under the German General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). Examples of possible reasons for discrimination are given in parentheses:

• Age (being young or old)

• Gender (being a woman or gender-diverse)

• Disability (having a disability or chronic illness)

• Ethnic origin (having a certain skin color or appearance, speaking a certain language, or having a migration background)

• Sexual orientation or identity (being lesbian, bisexual, or gay)

• Religion or belief (practicing a certain religion or not being religious)

• Social origin or status (e.g., having little education, belonging to the working class, or having a low-prestige job)

• Marital or family status (being born out of wedlock, into a specific caste (India), or family)

• Appearance (being overweight)

• National origin (coming from a particular country or region)

• Wealth (having a lot or very little money)

 

How are people discriminated against?

• Insults or verbal abuse

• Violence: People are hit, scratched, spat on, shoved, or psychologically pressured

• Exclusion or marginalization: No one talks to the discriminated person. When they enter a room, everyone goes quiet. They are denied important information, and others laugh at them.

• Harassment: People are deliberately addressed in English or asked where they're from, even though everyone knows they are German. People with disabilities are offered unsolicited help, even if they don’t want or need it.

How does discrimination arise?

Unequal and unfair treatment of people based on certain traits is usually rooted in prejudice. Prejudices are incorrect assumptions about individuals or groups, often held without knowing the person. These assumptions—sometimes held unconsciously—are used to justify why some people should be treated better or worse than others. People who hold a prejudice are often firmly convinced of it and are rarely persuaded otherwise, even with strong arguments.Prejudices are not visible from the outside. They are often learned unconsciously at home, in school, in clubs, through films, or in advertising—without noticing, thinking about, or discussing them.

People can experience multiple forms of discrimination simultaneously. And those who are discriminated against may also discriminate against others.

 

Who discriminates?

• Personal discrimination: An individual discriminates against others, e.g., a colleague against a coworker.

• Institutional discrimination: Organizations discriminate, e.g., companies, universities, associations, schools, public offices.

• Societal-cultural discrimination: Discriminatory language or images are used in public, e.g., in talk shows, on websites, social media, in movies, music, books, or advertising.

• Structural discrimination: Society has built-in systems that disadvantage people. For example, very few apartments are wheelchair-accessible. Some neighborhoods exclude people with little money or a certain skin color. Some clubs don’t accept women, homosexuals, or Black people – without any logical reason.

What can I do against discrimination?

People can experience discrimination in many different ways. Sometimes it might be a racist “compliment,” and sometimes discrimination can mean outright violence. There is therefore no single clear answer to the question of what you can do against discrimination—it depends on what you want to do and what you feel able to do.

If someone is in danger, the best course of action is to run away and get help. It also matters whether a single person or a group is discriminating against someone. Sometimes discrimination even comes from friends who have never really thought about their behavior before.

Bystanders—people who witness discrimination—are especially important. They can stand by and support the person being discriminated against so that they are no longer alone. This also shows the person who committed the discriminatory act that not everyone shares their attitude.

If you have witnessed or experienced discrimination, you can contact our contact point for protection against discrimination at any time.

What can you do if you are called out for discrimination?

• Take it seriously if someone says: “What you said is unfair, hurtful, or discriminatory.”

• Even if it’s hard: Don’t react impulsively. Stay calm and reflect on what was said. Ask questions if something is unclear.

• Apologize if you hurt someone – even if it wasn’t intentional.

• Learn from it: Perhaps we once used terms like “Zigeunerschnitzel” without knowing better. Now we do – and we stop using them because they’re hurtful.

• Attend anti-discrimination trainings or get support from anti-discrimination services.

• Discriminatory behavior can happen to any of us. What matters is how we deal with it constructively. If more people reflect on this, discrimination as a whole will decrease.

Consequences of discrimination

Discrimination harms both the individual and our society and economy, as it can lead to illnesses (such as depression, anxiety disorders, or heart problems), loneliness, and reduced opportunities and participation.

Discrimination can also cause conflicts (arguments, unproductive discussions, hatred, and other problems). In addition, there are economic and public health costs: when people become ill as a result of discrimination, employers and society incur expenses for sick leave, medication, and medical treatment.

The term diversity is often used as a synonym for “variety” or “plurality.” More precisely, it refers to the diversity or differences in characteristics and attributes within an organization, group, or society.

Beyond that, the term describes a social concept based on the idea that every individual is valuable in their uniqueness and deserves recognition and respect. Appreciating and promoting our societal diversity is a key foundation for reducing discrimination against individuals and groups and for achieving equal opportunities.

All diversity approaches share the goal of breaking down barriers and discrimination (e.g., in the workplace) while fostering personal diversity.

Critical diversity approaches do not only focus on individual responsibility for discrimination but also address the structural causes behind it.

The term was coined by the US civil rights and self-help movement and stands for self-empowerment or self-enablement. It refers to a process in which disadvantaged people develop their own strengths and use their abilities to participate in political and social decision-making processes and thus improve their living conditions and development opportunities - regardless of the goodwill of those in the majority. This includes concepts and strategies that help people in (relatively) marginalised positions to achieve a higher degree of self-determination and autonomy and to represent and assert their interests in an autonomous, self-responsible and self-determined manner. Empowerment refers to both the process of self-empowerment and professional support for people to recognise and utilise their scope for action and resources.

The term feminism describes societal efforts to strengthen women’s rights and achieve equality between women and men. Feminism manifests itself, on the one hand, as a socio-political movement promoting women’s rights, and on the other hand, in theoretical and scholarly work aimed at developing perspectives for achieving gender equality.

The term, originated from English, refers to social gender. In contrast to biological sex (eng.: sex), social gender refers to the socially, culturally, and institutionally constructed gender roles of women and men, as well as the dominant societal ideas of femininity and masculinity.This emphasizes that ideas about “typically female” or “typically male” tasks and roles are not natural givens, but are based on cultural traditions and social conventions.At the same time, sex and gender cannot be strictly separated: social gender cannot be entirely detached from biological characteristics, and, conversely, social gender roles influence perceptions of biological sex. In this way, the two categories mutually influence each other.

Gender-diverse people do not identify exclusively as male or female. This includes, for example, intersex, transgender, or non-binary individuals.

Intersex: People whose physical sex characteristics (chromosomes, hormones, internal and external reproductive organs) are not clearly male or female.

Transgender: People whose gender identity does not align with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Non-binary: People who do not identify as male or female.

In the context of gender, binarity refers to the classification of all people into two clearly separate categories: male and female (the gender binary). Both people who do not fit into this gender order—such as those with a non-binary gender identity—and the biological diversity of sex are overlooked in this framework.

Agender: People who have no gender, do not feel they belong to any gender, or do not relate to the concept of gender.

Since the end of 2018, following a ruling by the German Federal Constitutional Court, inter* and trans* people in Germany have been able to choose “diverse” or “unspecified” in addition to “male” and “female” when registering their personal status. This ruling not only affects civil status law but also has implications for many other areas. Under the General Act on Equal Treatment (AGG), it is particularly relevant for protection against discrimination in the workplace.

Hate speech refers to derogatory statements that are specifically aimed at certain people or groups of people. In misanthropic (e.g. heterosexist, racist, anti-Semitic) statements, people are insulted or threatened. This hatred can be reflected in speech and writing, especially on social media.

Heteronormativity is the assumption that everyone is heterosexual – that men are attracted to women and vice versa.

Heterosexuality is seen as “normal”; anything else, like homosexuality, is viewed as “abnormal.”

The term "normativity" emphasizes this societal expectation. Consciously and unconsciously, heterosexual relationships are portrayed and treated as the default. The heterosexual marriage and nuclear family still represent the social ideal.

Inclusion means that all people belong equally – everywhere and at all times. It ensures participation in society regardless of individual traits or disability.

Inclusion comes from the Latin inclusio, meaning “to include.” The idea is to remove barriers in all areas of life so everyone has equal access and opportunities – in schools, workplaces, and daily life.

People shouldn't have to adapt to structures – the environment must adapt to everyone. That’s how a society can welcome everyone, including people with disabilities.

What is the difference between integration and inclusion?

Integration means that a person or group must adapt or fit in in order to be able to participate. This may involve adapting to existing structures or fitting into an established system.

In integration, however, the external factors remain unchanged. These may include, for example, physical environments, a lack of support services, or society itself. Often, there are separate, so‑called solutions that may allow participation, but they do not create full equality.

What does The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD)  say about inclusion?

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) firmly establishes inclusion as a guiding principle. It demands that people with disabilities can participate equally in all areas of life and are free from discrimination and exclusion.

The convention contains 50 articles covering various fundamental human rights, such as the right to education, work, health, and social participation.

The States Parties, including Germany, commit to implementing the convention and ensuring equality before the law. However, Germany still needs to do much more to promote inclusion than it has so far.

At the Viadrina University, there is an Inclusion Officer as well as an Inclusion Agreement (It is accessible to employees via the intranet).

The term classism refers to discrimination against people based on their (ascribed) economic, socio-political or educational status or origin. This can manifest itself, for example, through insulting comments, degradation, etc., as well as limited access to housing, educational qualifications, healthcare, etc.

 

This acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, and agender people. The asterisk is a placeholder for further identities. The abbreviation comes in various forms and may include additional categories.

 

The abuse of power is the use of power, e.g. by a manager or professor, for one's own benefit or that of a group to which one belongs, at the expense of others. The more serious the consequences for those affected, the worse the abuse of power. Abuse of power in science can be understood as the misuse of a relationship of dependency, particularly in a hierarchical structure. Abuse of power has various facets and forms, which can range from sexualised discrimination and violence to threats and scientific misconduct. Abuse of power is often mixed with other types of discrimination such as racism, sexism or ableism.

 

Marginalisation refers to the displacement of individuals or population groups to the margins of society. Marginalisation can occur at different levels, for example geographically, economically, socially or culturally; it usually takes place at several levels simultaneously. Marginalisation takes place within a power structure and goes hand in hand with discrimination: the further a group is on the margins of society, the less power it has and the more disadvantaged it is compared to the social "centre". Marginalisation does not only affect numerical minorities. In a patriarchal society, for example, femininity is marginalised even though women are not a minority.

 

The term describes negative communicative actions by one or more persons directed against an individual, which occur repeatedly and systematically.

These can include, for example:

• Slander of colleagues or their family members
• Spreading unproven rumors about persons covered by this policy or their families
• Deliberately withholding necessary information
• Disinformation
• Threats and humiliation
• Insults, hurtful treatment, mockery, and aggression
• Undignified treatment by supervisors and colleagues, e.g., assigning humiliating, unsolvable, meaningless, or no tasks at all
• Repeated or coordinated personal insults toward persons covered by this policy, such as defamation in public or university forums.

 

The term patriarchy comes from Ancient Greek and translates roughly as “rule of the father.” Simply put, patriarchy is a form of society shaped by men. The prevailing norms and values stem from male ways of thinking and behaving. In common usage, patriarchy is often understood as an imbalance between men and women—but more broadly, it describes the dominance of powerful men over all other genders.

Patriarchal structures and the resulting gender injustice exist worldwide across various cultures. For example, in Germany, leadership positions in politics, business, and science are predominantly held by men. Women, on average, earn significantly less than men even when performing the same work. Additionally, women more often take on unpaid tasks in caregiving and child-rearing, which leads to financial disadvantages.

 

The term queer is often used as an umbrella term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people. As a self-designation, it is also frequently used to describe an identity beyond categories like “man” and “woman” or “heterosexual” and “lesbian”/“gay.” Queer can also refer to an attitude that questions the gender binary and heteronormativity. Originally, the adjective queer had a negative connotation in English, meaning something like “deviant” or “strange,” and was initially used as a slur to demean people who deviated from societal norms of heteronormativity. However, through a positive reclamation of the term, it was redefined and adopted by those who had originally been targeted by this derogatory use.

Racism is an ideology that devalues people based on their appearance, name, (supposed) culture, origin, or religion. In Germany, this mainly affects non-white people—those perceived as not truly belonging because they are seen as non-German. When people are judged and devalued not for their individual abilities and qualities or what they personally do, but as part of an assumed homogeneous group, this is racism.

This ideology is used to justify unequal social and economic conditions, the exclusion of people, or even violence. Racism is not just “simple” bullying; it is based on a real power imbalance in our society. This requires that people be divided into “us” and “others” based on external or (supposed) cultural characteristics. The “others” are then rated as less valuable or inferior to the “us.”

Right-wing extremism is not a uniform phenomenon but appears in different forms. Other related terms include fascism, neo-Nazism, and right-wing radicalism, which also frequently occur. Generally, the term right-wing extremism has become the overarching and collective label.

In brief:

• Right-wing extremists believe in the inequality of human beings.
• They downplay and justify National Socialism.
• They have an affinity for dictatorial forms of government.
• They think the community stands above the individual and that citizens should subordinate themselves to the state’s interests.

Right-wing extremists believe in a social Darwinist “law of the strongest.” They want to overcome the promises of political freedom, such as those guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

What does this mean?

They believe the "law of the strongest" should prevail, according to their ideology, meaning "weaker" people are less valuable and less worthy of protection. This idea comes from the animal kingdom, where the stronger animal tends to survive. Applying this idea to humans is, however, inhumane and degrading. Our constitution (Grundgesetz) states foremost that human dignity is inviolable. This means every person has equal value. There are no “better” or “stronger” humans. Every person is entitled to be an equal part of society and deserves respect.

Our freedom is one of our human rights and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have the right to decide whom we vote for, what we believe, and if and how we want to participate politically. Right-wing extremists, in particular, want to restrict political freedom so that only their ideology is recognized.

Black is a political self-designation of people of African and Afro-diasporic origin, Black people, people of dark skin colour and people of colour. The term does not necessarily describe skin colour, but rather the shared position in the violent power structure of racist society and the shared experiences of rasicm. The term is deliberately capitalised because it refers to the positioning in the white dominated majority society. The term is emancipatory in nature and originated from the civil rights movement.

 

Sexism describes the discrimination of people based on their gender. It is rooted in gender stereotypes and role expectations about how people are “supposed to be” based on their gender. Sexism can affect all genders, but girls, women, and gender-diverse people are disproportionately affected.

The roots of these gender stereotypes lie in the assumption that genders exist in a hierarchical relationship, with masculinity being the superior gender (patriarchy). Certain attributes are linked to genders, for example: “Men are strong,” “Women are nurturing.” People encounter these role models early in childhood and internalize them as learned assumptions about gender.

On an interpersonal level, sexism describes the expression of sexist attitudes through words or actions. Some sexist attitudes are easy to recognize, such as openly rejecting equality through statements based on stereotypical roles: “Women should go back to the kitchen, not the boardroom!” “Why are you applying for parental leave? You’re a man. Where is your wife?”

Often, however, the sexist content of a statement is not so easy to detect—for example, when discrimination against women is generally denied or when measures to reduce gender inequalities are rejected or trivialized. Among the broad spectrum of sexist attitudes and behaviors, sexual harassment is a particularly hurtful and degrading form of sexism.

 

Sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence are not isolated incidents but a structural problem in our society: girls, women, and gender-diverse people are disproportionately affected.

This includes actions that violate a person’s right to sexual self-determination. Examples include sexually degrading language, sexually related gestures, displaying pornographic material, unwanted touching, physical assaults, and coercion into sexual acts.

Sexual harassment occurs in all parts of society, including universities. Here, dependency relationships and professional hierarchies can encourage abusive behavior.

Stalking is the intentional, deliberate, and repeated following, pursuing, or harassing of a specific person against their explicit will.

Stalking behaviors include in particular:

• Unwanted, frequent contacts (in person, by phone, letter, email, or on social networks)
• Unwanted presence nearby, including following on foot or by vehicle.