Guide To Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

A phenomenon in which a member of a marginalized group performs poorly due to the threat of a negative stereotype about their abilities in the area being assessed, e.g., a stereotype that women or Black people are not good at math. Research demonstrates that situations that reinforce such stereotypes lead to members of marginalized groups performing more poorly on assessments related to the stereotypes, but that interventions can be designed to counteract the impact of stereotype threat. This research suggests that without such interventions, standard assessments used for admissions and hiring decisions are likely to be biased against members of marginalized groups. Review article

A phenomenon in which a person doubts their own skills and accomplishments, attributes their success to luck rather than hard work or skill, and fears that they are an impostor who does not deserve the things they have earned. We use the original term, impostor phenomenon, rather than the more commonly used term, impostor syndrome, to emphasize that this is not a medical condition to be attributed to individuals, but a phenomenon shaped by interpersonal and social contexts that may lead people, particularly those from marginalized groups, to question their skills and accomplishments. Review article

Unconscious and automatic attitudes or stereotypes about groups of people that impact one’s understanding of, actions toward, and decisions regarding individual members of such groups. For example, research shows that many people in the US, even those who consciously believe that all people are equal, implicitly have biases associating Black people with criminality and Asian people with being foreign, and not associating women with science. Implicit bias has measurable consequences in the world, with research demonstrating, for example, that people rate job applicants with names typically associated with women and/or people of color as less qualified than those with names typically associated with white men, and that students rate female instructors as less competent than male instructors. Everyone has implicit biases, and countering such biases requires explicit training and/or intervention strategies such as intergroup contact, perspective-taking, and exposure to counter-stereotypical exemplars. Review article

An ideology that argues that we live in a society in which achievements and rewards are based on merit, in the form of intelligence, hard work, or skill. This ideology tends to blame lack of success on lack of merit, and thus to obscure the impact of discrimination, bias, privilege, and unequal distribution of resources and opportunities based on race, gender, social class, and other factors. This ideology is particularly prominent in physics, where it is often argued that success or failure is based on objective criteria and therefore not influenced by culture, and where there is a strong culture of expectation of brilliance. Review article

An ideology that argues that one does not or should not see race, and/or that the best way to address racism is to treat everyone the same and not discuss racism. Many scholars argue that this ideology is harmful because ignoring racism makes it difficult to understand and fight racism, and because people who espouse this ideology are not able to understand the full experiences and identities of people of color, whose lived experiences are profoundly impacted by race and racism. Review article

“The everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.” Microaggressions often appear small to, or go unnoticed by, observers and perpetrators, but because people from marginalized groups experience them so regularly, they can lead to psychological stress and exhaustion for those who experience them. Examples include complimenting an Asian-American person for their English, questioning a Black person entering a research lab about whether they are supposed to be there, and telling a female physicist that she doesn’t look like a physicist. Definition from D. W. Sue.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

Unconscious and automatic attitudes or stereotypes about groups of people that impact one’s understanding of, actions toward, and decisions regarding individual members of such groups. For example, research shows that many people in the US, even those who consciously believe that all people are equal, implicitly have biases associating Black people with criminality and Asian people with being foreign, and not associating women with science. Implicit bias has measurable consequences in the world, with research demonstrating, for example, that people rate job applicants with names typically associated with women and/or people of color as less qualified than those with names typically associated with white men, and that students rate female instructors as less competent than male instructors. Everyone has implicit biases, and countering such biases requires explicit training and/or intervention strategies such as intergroup contact, perspective-taking, and exposure to counter-stereotypical exemplars. Review article

The tendency to underestimate the qualifications and contributions of members of marginalized groups and to overestimate those of dominant groups. Evaluation bias often contributes to inequitable evaluations in performance reviews and hiring and should be explicitly accounted for in these processes. See pp. 40–44 of this guidebook for a review of the literature on evaluation bias.

An ideology that argues that we live in a society in which achievements and rewards are based on merit, in the form of intelligence, hard work, or skill. This ideology tends to blame lack of success on lack of merit, and thus to obscure the impact of discrimination, bias, privilege, and unequal distribution of resources and opportunities based on race, gender, social class, and other factors. This ideology is particularly prominent in physics, where it is often argued that success or failure is based on objective criteria and therefore not influenced by culture, and where there is a strong culture of expectation of brilliance. Review article

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Website

National Society of Black Physicists. Website

National Society of Hispanic Physicists. Website

Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Website

Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Website

National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. Website

An APS-led program that increases the number of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students who earn PhDs in physics by ​​creating sustainable transition programs for graduate students at a national network of doctoral-granting institutions, and by providing undergraduate ​​students with research experience, advanced coursework, and coaching to prepare them for a graduate school application. Website

An APS-led program that facilitates and supports mentoring relationships between faculty mentors and Black, Latinx, and Indigenous undergraduate physics students at their own institutions and that holds an annual conference for mentors and mentees. Website

American Institute of Physics. Website

“The everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.” Microaggressions often appear small to, or go unnoticed by, observers and perpetrators, but because people from marginalized groups experience them so regularly, they can lead to psychological stress and exhaustion for those who experience them. Examples include complimenting an Asian-American person for their English, questioning a Black person entering a research lab about whether they are supposed to be there, and telling a female physicist that she doesn’t look like a physicist. Definition from D. W. Sue.

People who have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, … a history or record of such an impairment, or … [are] perceived by others as having such an impairment.” Definition from the Americans with Disabilities Act. We use identity-first language (disabled people), rather than person-first language (people with disabilities), because there is a movement toward such language within the disability community. However, both kinds of language are common, and different people and groups within the disability community prefer different terms. Advocates of person-first language argue that you should put the person before the diagnosis and avoid using disability to define someone. Advocates of identity-first language argue that disability is an important aspect of their identity and prefer to embrace this identity rather than avoid it. Overview of identity-first versus person-first language

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

groups that have power, privileges, and social status in society as a whole or in a particular social context. In both physics and US society as a whole, dominant groups typically include people who are white, male, heterosexual, and able-bodied. Any individual may be a member of a dominant group based on some aspects of their identity, and a member of a marginalized group based on other aspects of their identity.

Staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students who support the teaching of courses by serving as teaching assistants, learning assistants, undergraduate instructional assistants, course or laboratory coordinators, and other roles. This term does not include instructional staff who serve as instructors of record for courses.

“The everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.” Microaggressions often appear small to, or go unnoticed by, observers and perpetrators, but because people from marginalized groups experience them so regularly, they can lead to psychological stress and exhaustion for those who experience them. Examples include complimenting an Asian-American person for their English, questioning a Black person entering a research lab about whether they are supposed to be there, and telling a female physicist that she doesn’t look like a physicist. Definition from D. W. Sue.

Faculty, instructors, adjuncts, teaching staff, and others who serve as instructors of record for courses. This term does not include instructional support staff who support the teaching of courses.

Staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students who support the teaching of courses by serving as teaching assistants, learning assistants, undergraduate instructional assistants, course or laboratory coordinators, and other roles. This term does not include instructional staff who serve as instructors of record for courses.

A form of mentoring in which a mentor reflects upon how their own culture shapes their beliefs, perceptions, and identity, and seeks to learn about, build on, and validate the cultural context of their mentees. An example training is the Culturally Aware Mentoring program by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research.

A model for how people learn that embodies an assumption that everyone can learn and that intelligence can be cultivated. A growth mindset is opposed to a fixed mindset, which embodies an assumption that intelligence is innate and/or static, and a person either can or can’t learn a subject such as physics, depending on their fixed intelligence. Evidence suggests that when instructional staff and students have a growth mindset with respect to student learning, students attain better learning outcomes. Additionally, when admissions committee members adopt a growth mindset with respect to graduate student learning, a more inclusive graduate admissions process results. The models of growth and fixed mindsets are useful for instructional staff and admissions committees in thinking about how to support students, but they should not be used to blame students or justify why they are not learning. Summary article.

Unconscious and automatic attitudes or stereotypes about groups of people that impact one’s understanding of, actions toward, and decisions regarding individual members of such groups. For example, research shows that many people in the US, even those who consciously believe that all people are equal, implicitly have biases associating Black people with criminality and Asian people with being foreign, and not associating women with science. Implicit bias has measurable consequences in the world, with research demonstrating, for example, that people rate job applicants with names typically associated with women and/or people of color as less qualified than those with names typically associated with white men, and that students rate female instructors as less competent than male instructors. Everyone has implicit biases, and countering such biases requires explicit training and/or intervention strategies such as intergroup contact, perspective-taking, and exposure to counter-stereotypical exemplars. Review article

groups that have power, privileges, and social status in society as a whole or in a particular social context. In both physics and US society as a whole, dominant groups typically include people who are white, male, heterosexual, and able-bodied. Any individual may be a member of a dominant group based on some aspects of their identity, and a member of a marginalized group based on other aspects of their identity.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

groups that have power, privileges, and social status in society as a whole or in a particular social context. In both physics and US society as a whole, dominant groups typically include people who are white, male, heterosexual, and able-bodied. Any individual may be a member of a dominant group based on some aspects of their identity, and a member of a marginalized group based on other aspects of their identity.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

American Sign Language is a “a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, with grammar that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face. It is the primary language of many North Americans who are deaf and hard of hearing, and is used by many hearing people as well.” Definition from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

American Physical Society. Website

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

American Physical Society. Website

The percentage of students enrolled in a course who received a grade of D, F, or W (withdrew from the course). This is often used as an inverse measure of how well the course supports student success.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

A person or people of African ancestry. We use this term, rather than African American, because it is becoming the preferred term, and to be more inclusive of people who can’t trace their lineage to a specific country in Africa and/or those who are not American. We capitalize this term to acknowledge that it represents certain shared experiences, rather than just a race or skin color.

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and other sexual orientations and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Other common terms include the queer community and people with minoritized sexual and gender identities.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

A person or people of African ancestry. We use this term, rather than African American, because it is becoming the preferred term, and to be more inclusive of people who can’t trace their lineage to a specific country in Africa and/or those who are not American. We capitalize this term to acknowledge that it represents certain shared experiences, rather than just a race or skin color.

A person or people of African ancestry. We use this term, rather than African American, because it is becoming the preferred term, and to be more inclusive of people who can’t trace their lineage to a specific country in Africa and/or those who are not American. We capitalize this term to acknowledge that it represents certain shared experiences, rather than just a race or skin color.

Descendants of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. In the U.S., this term may include Native Americans and the Indigenous people of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.

A person or people of Latin American ancestry. We use this term, rather than Latino, Latina, Latino/a, or Latino/Latina (which assume a gender binary), to be more inclusive of all genders; rather than Hispanic, to be more inclusive of those who are not from Spanish-speaking countries and/or not of Spanish ancestry; and rather than other gender-neutral terms such as Latine, Latin@, Latinic, Latin, or Latin American, because it is more likely to be recognized and understood. However, we acknowledge that the term Latinx has been criticized as being a term that is more accessible to English-speakers than to Spanish speakers (because it does not follow Spanish linguistic or pronunciation rules) and that is not used by many of the people it represents.

“A comprehensive description and illustration of how and why a desired change is expected to happen in a particular context.” Definition from the Center for Theory of Change. For more details, see the section on How to Create and Sustain Effective Change.

National Society of Black Physicists. Website

National Society of Hispanic Physicists. Website

Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Website

A person or people indigenous to the 48 contiguous American states.  (Related terms across the Americas and Oceania include American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, First Nations, Aboriginal, and Indigenous.)

Colleges and universities that serve populations that have been minoritized, including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominantly Black institutions (PBIs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), and Asian American and Pacific Islander serving institutions (AAPISIs).

An APS-led program that facilitates and supports mentoring relationships between faculty mentors and Black, Latinx, and Indigenous undergraduate physics students at their own institutions and that holds an annual conference for mentors and mentees. Website

An APS-led program that increases the number of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students who earn PhDs in physics by ​​creating sustainable transition programs for graduate students at a national network of doctoral-granting institutions, and by providing undergraduate ​​students with research experience, advanced coursework, and coaching to prepare them for a graduate school application. Website

A person or people of African ancestry. We use this term, rather than African American, because it is becoming the preferred term, and to be more inclusive of people who can’t trace their lineage to a specific country in Africa and/or those who are not American. We capitalize this term to acknowledge that it represents certain shared experiences, rather than just a race or skin color.

Descendants of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. In the U.S., this term may include Native Americans and the Indigenous people of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.

A person or people of Latin American ancestry. We use this term, rather than Latino, Latina, Latino/a, or Latino/Latina (which assume a gender binary), to be more inclusive of all genders; rather than Hispanic, to be more inclusive of those who are not from Spanish-speaking countries and/or not of Spanish ancestry; and rather than other gender-neutral terms such as Latine, Latin@, Latinic, Latin, or Latin American, because it is more likely to be recognized and understood. However, we acknowledge that the term Latinx has been criticized as being a term that is more accessible to English-speakers than to Spanish speakers (because it does not follow Spanish linguistic or pronunciation rules) and that is not used by many of the people it represents.

Racism that manifests itself implicitly in the structures and institutions of society rather than in overtly racist individual actions. Also referred to as systemic racism. Individual actions can support institutional racism and have a racist impact without the individual having any racist intent or awareness. In seeking to address racism in your department, it is particularly important to pay attention to institutional racism, because it is more difficult to see than individual racism and is also more likely to have an impact on the daily lives of people of color in your department.

The assumption that all people “can be accurately categorized as a member of one of two genders … and that each member’s gender identity can be accurately assigned at birth using primary sexual characteristics. Research in biology, psychology, and neuroscience and the lived experience of many people confirm that the gender binary, and assignment of gender identity at birth, are too limiting. Many people have gender identities at odds with the standard conflation of primary sexual characteristics with membership in one of two genders and may describe themselves as nonbinary.” Definition from TEAM-UP Report.

A gender identity used to refer to someone who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. A nonbinary person might identify as both, in between, or neither of the two genders. Other common terms include genderfluid and genderqueer.

Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Website

An AAPT-led program to support peer mentoring among women physicists and astronomers. Website

People who are not necessarily women, but whose gender presentation and/or outward appearance is viewed or interpreted as feminine, e.g., nonbinary people or men who others interpret as being “feminine.” Such people may experience misogyny due to others’ perception of them as feminine.

Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Website

Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Website

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and other sexual orientations and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Other common terms include the queer community and people with minoritized sexual and gender identities.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and other sexual orientations and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Other common terms include the queer community and people with minoritized sexual and gender identities.

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and other sexual orientations and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Other common terms include the queer community and people with minoritized sexual and gender identities.

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and other sexual orientations and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Other common terms include the queer community and people with minoritized sexual and gender identities.

The name that a person uses in their regular life. Someone’s lived name may differ from their legal name. Using a lived name, and having others use it, can be particularly important for trans and nonbinary people to accurately convey their gender identity and to protect their safety. However, anyone, including people who go by nicknames, can use a lived name. We use this term rather than preferred name or chosen name to convey that the use of a lived name may be more than a preference or a choice.

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and other sexual orientations and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Other common terms include the queer community and people with minoritized sexual and gender identities.

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and other sexual orientations and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Other common terms include the queer community and people with minoritized sexual and gender identities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal law prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications as well as state and local government services. Website

People who have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, … a history or record of such an impairment, or … [are] perceived by others as having such an impairment.” Definition from the Americans with Disabilities Act. We use identity-first language (disabled people), rather than person-first language (people with disabilities), because there is a movement toward such language within the disability community. However, both kinds of language are common, and different people and groups within the disability community prefer different terms. Advocates of person-first language argue that you should put the person before the diagnosis and avoid using disability to define someone. Advocates of identity-first language argue that disability is an important aspect of their identity and prefer to embrace this identity rather than avoid it. Overview of identity-first versus person-first language

Guidelines based on the Universal Design for Learning framework for structuring learning environments to remove barriers and ensure that all kinds of learners can access and participate in learning. Website

attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

Faculty, instructors, adjuncts, teaching staff, and others who serve as instructors of record for courses. This term does not include instructional support staff who support the teaching of courses.

People who have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, … a history or record of such an impairment, or … [are] perceived by others as having such an impairment.” Definition from the Americans with Disabilities Act. We use identity-first language (disabled people), rather than person-first language (people with disabilities), because there is a movement toward such language within the disability community. However, both kinds of language are common, and different people and groups within the disability community prefer different terms. Advocates of person-first language argue that you should put the person before the diagnosis and avoid using disability to define someone. Advocates of identity-first language argue that disability is an important aspect of their identity and prefer to embrace this identity rather than avoid it. Overview of identity-first versus person-first language

Faculty, instructors, adjuncts, teaching staff, and others who serve as instructors of record for courses. This term does not include instructional support staff who support the teaching of courses.

People who have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, … a history or record of such an impairment, or … [are] perceived by others as having such an impairment.” Definition from the Americans with Disabilities Act. We use identity-first language (disabled people), rather than person-first language (people with disabilities), because there is a movement toward such language within the disability community. However, both kinds of language are common, and different people and groups within the disability community prefer different terms. Advocates of person-first language argue that you should put the person before the diagnosis and avoid using disability to define someone. Advocates of identity-first language argue that disability is an important aspect of their identity and prefer to embrace this identity rather than avoid it. Overview of identity-first versus person-first language

People who have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, … a history or record of such an impairment, or … [are] perceived by others as having such an impairment.” Definition from the Americans with Disabilities Act. We use identity-first language (disabled people), rather than person-first language (people with disabilities), because there is a movement toward such language within the disability community. However, both kinds of language are common, and different people and groups within the disability community prefer different terms. Advocates of person-first language argue that you should put the person before the diagnosis and avoid using disability to define someone. Advocates of identity-first language argue that disability is an important aspect of their identity and prefer to embrace this identity rather than avoid it. Overview of identity-first versus person-first language

People who have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, … a history or record of such an impairment, or … [are] perceived by others as having such an impairment.” Definition from the Americans with Disabilities Act. We use identity-first language (disabled people), rather than person-first language (people with disabilities), because there is a movement toward such language within the disability community. However, both kinds of language are common, and different people and groups within the disability community prefer different terms. Advocates of person-first language argue that you should put the person before the diagnosis and avoid using disability to define someone. Advocates of identity-first language argue that disability is an important aspect of their identity and prefer to embrace this identity rather than avoid it. Overview of identity-first versus person-first language

The discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability. Like racism and sexism, ableism classifies entire groups of people as ‘less than,’ and includes harmful stereotypes, misconceptions, and generalizations of people with disabilities.” Definition from Access Living.

The discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability. Like racism and sexism, ableism classifies entire groups of people as ‘less than,’ and includes harmful stereotypes, misconceptions, and generalizations of people with disabilities.” Definition from Access Living.

The discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability. Like racism and sexism, ableism classifies entire groups of people as ‘less than,’ and includes harmful stereotypes, misconceptions, and generalizations of people with disabilities.” Definition from Access Living.

Faculty, instructors, adjuncts, teaching staff, and others who serve as instructors of record for courses. This term does not include instructional support staff who support the teaching of courses.

An advising model designed to support first-generation and at-risk students, in which advisers work to build relationships and proactively connect with students before they struggle rather than wait for students to seek help. Proactive advising was formerly called “intrusive advising.” It is a component of “developmental advising,” which is based on student development theories and focuses on supporting the whole student by looking at needs holistically, including whether they are in a safe living environment, have access to the resources they need for success, and are fulfilled in the major they have chosen. Developmental advising is contrasted with “prescriptive advising,” which focuses on providing students with advice on navigating their academic schedules and requirements. Articles about proactive advising and different theories of advising.

Faculty, instructors, adjuncts, teaching staff, and others who serve as instructors of record for courses. This term does not include instructional support staff who support the teaching of courses.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

An ideology that argues that one does not or should not see race, and/or that the best way to address racism is to treat everyone the same and not discuss racism. Many scholars argue that this ideology is harmful because ignoring racism makes it difficult to understand and fight racism, and because people who espouse this ideology are not able to understand the full experiences and identities of people of color, whose lived experiences are profoundly impacted by race and racism. Review article

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and other sexual orientations and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Other common terms include the queer community and people with minoritized sexual and gender identities.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

Unconscious and automatic attitudes or stereotypes about groups of people that impact one’s understanding of, actions toward, and decisions regarding individual members of such groups. For example, research shows that many people in the US, even those who consciously believe that all people are equal, implicitly have biases associating Black people with criminality and Asian people with being foreign, and not associating women with science. Implicit bias has measurable consequences in the world, with research demonstrating, for example, that people rate job applicants with names typically associated with women and/or people of color as less qualified than those with names typically associated with white men, and that students rate female instructors as less competent than male instructors. Everyone has implicit biases, and countering such biases requires explicit training and/or intervention strategies such as intergroup contact, perspective-taking, and exposure to counter-stereotypical exemplars. Review article

An APS-led program that increases the number of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students who earn PhDs in physics by ​​creating sustainable transition programs for graduate students at a national network of doctoral-granting institutions, and by providing undergraduate ​​students with research experience, advanced coursework, and coaching to prepare them for a graduate school application. Website

A person or people of African ancestry. We use this term, rather than African American, because it is becoming the preferred term, and to be more inclusive of people who can’t trace their lineage to a specific country in Africa and/or those who are not American. We capitalize this term to acknowledge that it represents certain shared experiences, rather than just a race or skin color.

A person or people of Latin American ancestry. We use this term, rather than Latino, Latina, Latino/a, or Latino/Latina (which assume a gender binary), to be more inclusive of all genders; rather than Hispanic, to be more inclusive of those who are not from Spanish-speaking countries and/or not of Spanish ancestry; and rather than other gender-neutral terms such as Latine, Latin@, Latinic, Latin, or Latin American, because it is more likely to be recognized and understood. However, we acknowledge that the term Latinx has been criticized as being a term that is more accessible to English-speakers than to Spanish speakers (because it does not follow Spanish linguistic or pronunciation rules) and that is not used by many of the people it represents.

Descendants of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. In the U.S., this term may include Native Americans and the Indigenous people of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

groups that have power, privileges, and social status in society as a whole or in a particular social context. In both physics and US society as a whole, dominant groups typically include people who are white, male, heterosexual, and able-bodied. Any individual may be a member of a dominant group based on some aspects of their identity, and a member of a marginalized group based on other aspects of their identity.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

Organizations for people based on identities, e.g., the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), the National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP), the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), the Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP), Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM), and National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP).

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

The practice of making only a symbolic or “token” gesture by recruiting one or more people from a marginalized group in order to give the appearance of equity without doing the work to ensure that people are supported and included. Tokenism can result in people from marginalized groups feeling isolated, being asked to represent their entire group, not being valued and respected as individuals, and being put in symbolic positions without being given a voice or power to take action.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

“Physical, virtual, or social safe space in which the needs, aspirations, social proclivities, and learning and communication styles of marginalized identity group members are centered and of paramount concern. These can include department or campus-wide clubs or organizations, mentoring networks, conferences, physical centers focused on particular marginalized groups, etc., and also outside groups such as churches and families.” Definition from TEAM-UP report.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

Society of Physics Students. Website

Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Website

National Society of Black Physicists. Website

National Society of Hispanic Physicists. Website

Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Website

Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Website

National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. Website

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Website

National Society of Black Physicists. Website

National Society of Hispanic Physicists. Website

Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Website

Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Website

National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. Website

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

“The everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.” Microaggressions often appear small to, or go unnoticed by, observers and perpetrators, but because people from marginalized groups experience them so regularly, they can lead to psychological stress and exhaustion for those who experience them. Examples include complimenting an Asian-American person for their English, questioning a Black person entering a research lab about whether they are supposed to be there, and telling a female physicist that she doesn’t look like a physicist. Definition from D. W. Sue.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

The discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability. Like racism and sexism, ableism classifies entire groups of people as ‘less than,’ and includes harmful stereotypes, misconceptions, and generalizations of people with disabilities.” Definition from Access Living.

Unconscious and automatic attitudes or stereotypes about groups of people that impact one’s understanding of, actions toward, and decisions regarding individual members of such groups. For example, research shows that many people in the US, even those who consciously believe that all people are equal, implicitly have biases associating Black people with criminality and Asian people with being foreign, and not associating women with science. Implicit bias has measurable consequences in the world, with research demonstrating, for example, that people rate job applicants with names typically associated with women and/or people of color as less qualified than those with names typically associated with white men, and that students rate female instructors as less competent than male instructors. Everyone has implicit biases, and countering such biases requires explicit training and/or intervention strategies such as intergroup contact, perspective-taking, and exposure to counter-stereotypical exemplars. Review article

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

Faculty, instructors, adjuncts, teaching staff, and others who serve as instructors of record for courses. This term does not include instructional support staff who support the teaching of courses.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

People who are not necessarily women, but whose gender presentation and/or outward appearance is viewed or interpreted as feminine, e.g., nonbinary people or men who others interpret as being “feminine.” Such people may experience misogyny due to others’ perception of them as feminine.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

groups that have power, privileges, and social status in society as a whole or in a particular social context. In both physics and US society as a whole, dominant groups typically include people who are white, male, heterosexual, and able-bodied. Any individual may be a member of a dominant group based on some aspects of their identity, and a member of a marginalized group based on other aspects of their identity.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

A form of mentoring in which a mentor reflects upon how their own culture shapes their beliefs, perceptions, and identity, and seeks to learn about, build on, and validate the cultural context of their mentees. An example training is the Culturally Aware Mentoring program by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research.

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

A phenomenon in which a member of a marginalized group performs poorly due to the threat of a negative stereotype about their abilities in the area being assessed, e.g., a stereotype that women or Black people are not good at math. Research demonstrates that situations that reinforce such stereotypes lead to members of marginalized groups performing more poorly on assessments related to the stereotypes, but that interventions can be designed to counteract the impact of stereotype threat. This research suggests that without such interventions, standard assessments used for admissions and hiring decisions are likely to be biased against members of marginalized groups. Review article

the knowledge, behaviors, and skills that people acquire by being part of a dominant group or class. This concept is used to explain how culture can provide advantages that increase inequities between those from different groups. Overview

People of color and others with marginalized ethnicities, women and others who experience misogyny, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in society and in physics. According to the TEAM-UP Report, marginalized groups are “groups of people defined by a common social identity who lack adequate social power or resources to design, build, or perpetuate social structures or institutions that reflect the centrality … of their identities, proclivities, and points of view. … They need not be underrepresented or numerical minorities, but often are.” We use the term marginalized groups, rather than minorities, underrepresented groups, or other commonly used terms, because people in these groups are not always minorities or underrepresented, and in order to convey that underrepresentation is the result of marginalization rather than a statistical accident. Another common term is minoritized groups. While we use this general term for brevity and readability, it is important to recognize that the many different groups encompassed by this term face different challenges and have different needs that should be addressed individually whenever possible, to learn the terms that people ask to be called, and to recognize that these terms may change over time.

An APS-led program that facilitates and supports mentoring relationships between faculty mentors and Black, Latinx, and Indigenous undergraduate physics students at their own institutions and that holds an annual conference for mentors and mentees. Website

A person or people of African ancestry. We use this term, rather than African American, because it is becoming the preferred term, and to be more inclusive of people who can’t trace their lineage to a specific country in Africa and/or those who are not American. We capitalize this term to acknowledge that it represents certain shared experiences, rather than just a race or skin color.

A person or people of Latin American ancestry. We use this term, rather than Latino, Latina, Latino/a, or Latino/Latina (which assume a gender binary), to be more inclusive of all genders; rather than Hispanic, to be more inclusive of those who are not from Spanish-speaking countries and/or not of Spanish ancestry; and rather than other gender-neutral terms such as Latine, Latin@, Latinic, Latin, or Latin American, because it is more likely to be recognized and understood. However, we acknowledge that the term Latinx has been criticized as being a term that is more accessible to English-speakers than to Spanish speakers (because it does not follow Spanish linguistic or pronunciation rules) and that is not used by many of the people it represents.

Descendants of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. In the U.S., this term may include Native Americans and the Indigenous people of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.