Diversity Wheel Glossary

• Age – The number of years a person has been alive.
• Appearance – How a person chooses to express themselves with dress.
• Citizenship – The position or status of being a citizen of a particular country.
• Education – The process of receiving or giving instruction especially in a school or university.
• Ethnicity – A person’s ethnic affiliation or quality.
• Experiences – The process of living through events.
• Interests/Extracurricular Involvement – Participation in an activity outside of assigned coursework.
• Family Structure – The combination of relatives and people that comprise a family.
• Gender Expression – The physical and behavioral way one conveys their gender through mannerisms and expressions.
• Gender Identity – A person’s internal sense of being male, female or some combination thereof.
• Geographic Location – A person’s position and place on the earth.
• Income – Money received.
• K-12 level – Publicly supported grades prior to college or university.
• Longevity – A long duration of existence or service.
• National Origin – The nation where a person was born or where their ancestors came from.
• Organizational Memberships – Belonging to a group or organization outside of school hours.

• Physical Characteristics – A person’s distinguishing traits or qualities.
• Professional Title – A person’s job title as part of an organization.
• Physical, Mental and Cognitive Abilities – A person’s natural physical, cognitive and mental aptitude and proficiencies.
• Race – A group sharing a common cultural, geographical, linguistic, religious origin or background.
• Relationship Status – A term used to describe if a person is single, married, or in a civil partnership.
• Religious Beliefs – Holding or not holding a religious belief.
• Roles and Department – An individual’s responsibility or position in an organization.
• Sexual Orientation – A person’s sexual identity as bi-sexual, straight, gay, pan, etc.
• Socio-economic Status – The social standing or class of an individual group often measured in income, education, and occupation.
• Thinking and Communication Styles – how someone expresses thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.