Performative Sexuality: Expression, Identity, and Social Meaning
Performative sexuality describes how people express and present sexuality through behaviors, communication, identity, and cultural practices.
Gendered Insult: Gender Stereotypes, Sexism, and Derogatory Language
A gendered insult attacks someone through stereotypes or judgments about gender, masculinity, femininity, gender identity, expression, sexuality, or expected social roles.
Language Reclamation: Reclaiming Stigmatized Words and Identity
Language reclamation is the process of reusing stigmatizing or derogatory words as positive, neutral, humorous, political, or identity-affirming expressions.
Sexualized Insult: Sexual Shaming, Stigma, and Derogatory Language
A sexualized insult uses sexuality, sexual reputation, bodies, gender, or sexual orientation to shame, demean, ridicule, or socially devalue someone.
Self-Descriptor: Identity Labels, Self-Identification, and Language
A self-descriptor is a word or label a person uses to describe their own identity, experiences, sexuality, gender, relationships, or other personally meaningful characteristics.
Reclaimed Slur: Language, Identity, Stigma, and Reappropriation
A reclaimed slur is a formerly derogatory term that some members of the targeted group reuse as a positive, neutral, humorous, political, or identity-affirming expression.
Community-Specific Language: Identity, Belonging, and Shared Vocabulary
Community-specific language is vocabulary used mainly within a particular group to describe shared identities, experiences, relationships, behaviors, or social meanings.
Person-Centered Terminology: Respectful Language About Identity and Health
Person-centered terminology uses accurate, respectful language that recognizes a person as more than a diagnosis, disability, sexual behavior, gender characteristic, or health condition.
Coded Language: Hidden Meaning, Identity, and Sexual Communication
Coded language uses words, symbols, or expressions whose deeper meaning depends on shared knowledge, often helping people communicate identity, attraction, or sexuality indirectly.
Respectful Terminology: Accurate, Inclusive, and Non-Stigmatizing Language
Respectful terminology uses accurate and considerate words for people, identities, bodies, health, relationships, and sexuality without unnecessary stigma or degrading assumptions.