Social Justice Terms

verb to take into custody by authority of the law

adjective being held in custody as a result of being arrested

• The suspect was arrested by the police for theft.
• They finally arrested that guy for breaking into cars.
• The cops busted him and arrested him for dealing drugs.
• His fear of failure arrested his ability to take risks.

noun a person who is of African descent and has dark skin

adjective describing the man as having dark skin color

• The black man was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement.
• I saw a black man walking down the street earlier.
• Yo, that black man has some serious style!
• The black man symbolized resilience and strength in the face of adversity.

noun a person who is not white or of European descent

• It is important to treat every colored person with respect and dignity.
• I heard that the new employee is a colored person.
• Some people still use offensive slang terms when referring to a colored person.
• The artist used vibrant colors to represent the beauty of the colored person in the painting.

noun a loud vocal expression of strong emotion, such as pain, grief, or joy

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The citizens' cry for justice was heard by the government officials.
• I could hear my dog's cry for attention as soon as I walked in the door.
• She always puts on a dramatic cry for sympathy whenever she doesn't get her way.
• The wilting flowers seemed to cry for water in the scorching heat.

verb to publicly denounce or criticize something

• Many experts decry the government's lack of action on climate change.
• I heard some people decry the new policy at work.
• She's always decrying everything, it's so annoying.
• The artist's work subtly decry societal norms and expectations.

verb to treat a person or particular group of people differently, especially in a negative way

• It is illegal to discriminate against someone based on their race.
• I don't like how they discriminate against people who are different.
• Stop discriminating, it's not cool.
• The algorithm can discriminate between different types of data.

adjective an adjective that describes something that is out of proportion or not in balance

• The judge ruled that the punishment was disproportionate to the crime.
• She thought the amount of homework given was disproportionate to the time they had to complete it.
• I can't believe how disproportionate the prices are at that store!
• The weight of her worries felt disproportionate to the size of her problems.

verb to become rotten or decayed

adjective becoming increasingly worse or more intense, typically as a result of neglect or indifference

• The festering wound required immediate medical attention.
• I can't believe you left that festering garbage in the kitchen for so long.
• That festering drama between them is getting out of hand.
• The festering resentment between the two parties eventually led to a breakdown in communication.

noun the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure

adjective involving or relating to the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure

• The company promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• We believe in inclusion and making sure everyone feels welcome.
• Inclusion is key to creating a chill vibe in our group.
• Inclusion is like adding all the colors to a beautiful painting.

adjective not regulated by or based on law; unlawful

• The lawless behavior of the group led to their arrest.
• The town has become a bit lawless since the sheriff retired.
• The party last night was totally lawless.
• His mind was a lawless jungle of conflicting thoughts.

noun a person of liberal views

adjective relating to or characteristic of liberalism; open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values

• The liberal party proposed a new bill to promote environmental protection.
• My friend is very liberal when it comes to sharing snacks.
• She's a total lib when it comes to social issues.
• His mind was a liberal oasis in a desert of conservative thinking.

noun a person who is aggressively active in a cause; an activist

adjective aggressively active, especially in support of a cause

• The government is cracking down on militant groups operating in the region.
• I heard that there are some militant protesters gathering in the city square.
• Those militants are causing a lot of trouble in the neighborhood.
• Her militant approach to solving the problem surprised everyone.

noun a minimum amount of money that an employer is required by law to pay to an employee for work done

• The government recently announced an increase in the minimum wage to help low-income workers.
• I heard they're raising the minimum wage next month, which is great news for us.
• Dude, did you hear they're bumping up the min wage? Finally!
• In the world of freelancing, your time is your minimum wage - make sure it's worth it.

noun a person who dislikes, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against women

• The politician was accused of being a misogynist due to his derogatory comments towards women.
• I can't believe he's such a misogynist, always belittling women.
• That guy is a total misogynist, he's always making sexist jokes.
• Her ex-husband's behavior made her feel like she was married to a misogynist monster.

verb to make something illegal; to prohibit by law

• The new law outlawed the use of plastic bags in the city.
• They outlawed smoking in public places.
• They totally outlawed skateboarding in the park.
• She felt like her emotions were outlawed in her family.

verb to cause trouble or chaos; to act disruptively or rebelliously

• The protesters threatened to raise hell if their demands were not met.
• If you don't show up to the party, we're gonna raise hell!
• The fans were ready to raise hell at the concert.
• When the CEO announced layoffs, it felt like he was raising hell in the company.

noun a person who holds sexist beliefs or engages in sexist behavior

adjective a term used to describe attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors that discriminate against individuals based on their gender

• The company's policy on gender discrimination aims to eliminate any sexist behavior in the workplace.
• I can't believe he made such a sexist comment during the meeting.
• That joke was so sexist, dude.
• Her outdated views on gender roles are like a sexist relic from the past.

noun a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land

adjective relating to or characteristic of squatters

• The squatter refused to vacate the premises despite multiple eviction notices.
• The squatter set up camp in the abandoned building down the street.
• That squatter has been squatting in that house for months now.
• Negative thoughts are like squatters in your mind, taking up space and causing trouble.

verb to confront or resist someone or something in a bold or assertive manner

• It is important for citizens to stand up to corruption and hold their leaders accountable.
• I admire people who have the courage to stand up to bullies and speak out against them.
• Don't let anyone push you around, you gotta stand up to them!
• Sometimes you have to stand up to your fears in order to achieve your goals.

noun a person who violates a law, command, moral code, etc.; sinner

• The court will not tolerate any transgressor of the law.
• Don't be a transgressor and follow the rules.
• If you want to avoid trouble, don't be a transgressor.
• In the eyes of society, a transgressor is seen as a rebel.

adjective describing a perspective or belief that is critical of or questioning of gender norms or identities

• The gender-critical perspective challenges traditional notions of gender identity.
• Some people who are gender-critical believe that gender is not solely based on biological sex.
• Those gender-critical folks really don't buy into gender stereotypes.
• Looking at gender through a gender-critical lens is like peeling back layers of societal expectations.

pronoun a gender-neutral pronoun used to refer to a person who identifies as non-binary or genderqueer

• Xemself is a gender-neutral pronoun used by some individuals to refer to themselves.
• I heard xemself prefers to be called by their chosen pronouns.
• Xemself is just doing xemself, you know how they are.
• She carried herself with such confidence, it was as if xemself was unstoppable.

verb to refer to or address someone using a word, especially a pronoun, that does not correctly reflect the gender with which they identify

• It is important to respect people's gender identity and not misgender them.
• Hey, remember to use the correct pronouns for everyone so we don't misgender anyone.
• Dude, don't be a jerk and misgender people on purpose.
• Misgendering someone is like erasing their identity, so always be mindful of using the right pronouns.

noun a person's name that they were given at birth but no longer use after transitioning to a different gender

• It is important to respect a person's chosen name and not use their deadname.
• Hey, remember to always use their current name and not their deadname.
• Using someone's deadname is just not cool, man.
• Bringing up their deadname is like digging up the past that they have moved on from.

noun LGBTIQ

• The organization is dedicated to advocating for the rights of LGBTIQ individuals.
• I have many friends who are part of the LGBTIQ community.
• Some people still use derogatory terms when referring to LGBTIQ individuals.
• The rainbow flag is a symbol of pride and inclusivity for the LGBTIQ community.

noun A person who combines crafting with activism, using their creative skills to promote social or political change.

• The craftivist movement seeks to promote social change through art and craft projects.
• My friend is a craftivist who uses knitting as a form of activism.
• I never thought I'd be into craftivism, but now I love making protest banners.
• The craftivist's needle was like a sword, piercing through societal norms and injustices.

noun a noun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'lesbophobia' is a noun that refers to the fear or hatred of lesbians.

• Lesbophobia is a form of discrimination and prejudice against lesbian individuals.
• It's really upsetting to see lesbophobia still present in our society.
• Some people just need to stop with their lesbophobic comments.
• The dark cloud of lesbophobia looms over many LGBTQ+ individuals.

noun a person who is against the idea of a pass or permit

adjective opposed to the use or implementation of passes or permits

• The government implemented an anti-pass law to restrict movement in certain areas.
• I heard they're cracking down on anti-pass violations in the city.
• Don't forget to carry your anti-pass with you when you go out.
• She wore her determination like an anti-pass, refusing to be held back by obstacles.

noun Gender non-conformity - refers to the behavior or appearance of an individual that does not align with the traditional societal expectations or norms associated with their assigned gender at birth.

• Gender non-conformity challenges traditional societal norms regarding gender expression.
• Some people just don't fit into traditional gender roles and that's okay.
• Gender non-conformity is all about breaking the gender rules and being yourself.
• Embracing gender non-conformity is like painting outside the lines of society's expectations.

noun a derogatory term for a person who holds transphobic views, specifically towards transgender women

• TERF stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, a term used to describe individuals who exclude transgender women from their definition of feminism.
• I heard that Sarah is a TERF and doesn't believe transgender women should be included in women's spaces.
• Some people refer to TERFs as 'gender-critical feminists' but others see it as a derogatory term.
• Being a TERF is like building a wall between different groups of women instead of working together for equality.

noun a type of urban design that aims to prevent people from lingering or resting in public spaces

adjective referring to the design or implementation of hostile architecture

• The city council implemented hostile architecture to prevent homeless individuals from sleeping on public benches.
• They put in those weird benches with armrests to keep people from lying down, it's like they're using hostile architecture.
• The new park design is so anti-homeless, they're really going all out with the hostile architecture.
• The spikes on the windowsills were like a form of hostile architecture, keeping any unwanted visitors away.

noun the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

• The concept of intersectionality examines how various social categories like race, gender, and class intersect and influence one's experiences and opportunities.
• Intersectionality is about how different aspects of a person's identity can overlap and impact their life.
• Intersectionality is like when all the different parts of who you are come together to shape your perspective.
• Just like roads crossing at an intersection, intersectionality shows how different factors intersect in shaping an individual's identity.

noun Aapi is a noun referring to a close female friend or sister in South Asian cultures.

• The organization aims to support the AAPI community through various initiatives.
• My friend is part of the AAPI group at school.
• I love trying out different AAPI cuisines.
• The AAPI population continues to grow in the country.

noun a person who abolishes or puts an end to something

• The abolisher of the outdated policy was met with resistance from some members of the board.
• I heard that the abolisher of the dress code rule is the new principal.
• The abolisher of curfew is the coolest parent on the block.
• As an abolisher of negativity, she always brings a positive energy to any situation.

noun a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime

verb not applicable

adjective not applicable

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

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• The accusment of theft was based on strong evidence presented in court.
• She couldn't believe the accusment her friend made about her cheating on the test.
• I overheard the accusment that he was the one who started the fight.
• The accusment of being a liar weighed heavily on her conscience.

noun The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization devoted to defending and preserving the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

• The ACLU is known for defending civil liberties and fighting for constitutional rights.
• I heard that the ACLU is taking on a big case against the government.
• The ACLU is always out here fighting the good fight.
• The ACLU is like a guardian angel for those whose rights are being violated.