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As one of the nation鈥檚 most diverse campuses, CSUDH has an obligation to set the highest standard for inclusivity. Words matter, and we should all strive for inclusive language at all times.
This guide follows the Chancellor鈥檚 Office鈥檚 Diversity/Inclusivity Style Guide. We add a few examples in this guide, but here is the .
gender鈥gender refers to a person鈥檚 social identity, while sex refers to biological characteristics. It is best to ask how a person would like to be referred. Unless the preferred gender is known, it is best to reword sentences to avoid gender pronouns. For a more detailed explanation, please see .
贬颈蝉辫补苍颈肠鈥Hispanic generally refers to people living in the United States who have origins in Spanish-speaking countries. Hispanic and Latino/a/x are used interchangeably. Be consistent within a document. (See Latina/o/x) For more details, please visit .
尝补迟颈苍补/辞/虫鈥Latina/o/x generally refers to people living in the United States who have origins in Latin America and the Caribbean. Latinx is acceptable as a gender-inclusive neutral term. If referencing a person, ask how they wish to be referred. (See also Hispanic) For more details, please visit .
LGBTQIA鈥 LGBTQIA is an abbreviation for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and/or questioning, asexual/aromantic/agender." The 鈥淎" in LGBTQIA may also refer to 鈥渁lly" or 鈥渁llied," meaning someone who does not identify as LGBTQIA but supports those who do. This is our preferred use, as opposed to LGBT, GLBT or other abbreviations.
That said, if a source in your content prefers to be referred to or identified using another term or abbreviation, please abide by their preference.
May be used in first reference. For more information, please see .
low-income鈥擯referred to words such as 鈥減oor,鈥 鈥渦nderprivileged,鈥 or 鈥渄isadvantaged.鈥 (See also Pell-eligible) For more information, please visit .
minority/minorities鈥擜void using. Instead, use people of color or students of color.
笔别濒濒-别濒颈驳颈产濒别鈥Refers to students who receive federal Pell Grant aid. Often used interchangeably to refer to 鈥渓ow-income students鈥 because the grant is given based on exceptional financial need. However, it does not refer to all low-income students because only U.S. citizens and citizens from another country with permanent resident status are Pell-eligible. For more information, please visit .
people with disabilities鈥Avoid using descriptors that label the person by their disability (example: paraplegic. Instead, if essential to the writing, say the person has paraplegia). If the disability is not part of the story, and there isn鈥檛 a need to include it, don鈥檛. For more information, see .
耻苍诲别谤谤别辫谤别蝉别苍迟别诲鈥Refers to racial and ethnic populations that are represented at disproportionately low levels in higher education. For more information, please visit .
耻苍诲别谤蝉别谤惫别诲鈥Refers to communities or students who do not receive equitable resources compared to others. For more information, please visit .