Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches Glossary

umoja

a Swahili word meaning "unity," one of seven principles associated with the holiday of Kwanzaa

kugichagulia

a Swahili word meaning "self-determination," another principle of Kwanzaa

ujima

a Swahili word meaning "collective work and responsibility," another principle of Kwanzaa

racism

the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over others, and thereby the right to dominance

sexism

the belief in the inherent superiority of one sex and thereby the right to dominance

heterosexism

the belief in the inherent superiority of heterosexuality over homosexuality, and thereby its right to dominance

homophobia

the fear of feelings of love for members of one's own sex and therefore the hatred of those feelings in others; more broadly, dislike of or prejudice against homosexuals

erotic

relating to or tending to arouse sexual desire or excitement

pornographic

the depiction of behavior intended to create sexual excitement

narcissism

excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance

privilege

a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group

herstory

history of women or history written through a feminist lens

idiom

a characteristic mode of expression

codicil

an addition that modifies or changes the meaning of a will or, more broadly, a statement

patriarchy

A system of society or government based on men's dominance over women

apartheid

a policy of segregation, usually based on race

socialism

a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole

doublethink

the ability to accept two contradictory realities or beliefs at once due to political indoctrination; coined by George Orwell in his novel 1984

separatist

someone who advocates the separation of a particular group of people from a larger body on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or gender

axiomatic

self-evident, unquestioned

insolence

disrespectful behavior

arcane

Mysterious, little-known

Oppression

Continuous mistreatment and control of a group of people

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