Social groups whose individual members have been denied equal access to employment, education, social services, housing, etc. because of membership in the group.  The designated groups in Ontario are visible minorities, women, aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities.

Inborn or assigned characteristics of an individual that may prevent full participation in educational, social, economic, political, religious, institutional or formal activities of a group, or that may require accommodation to enable full participation.  Visible disabilities are readily apparent and consequent discrimination or stigma may be more predicable than with invisible disabilities which are not immediately apparent.  Persons with disabilities form one of the designated groups in employment equity programs.  An important aspect of this definition is voluntary self-identification.

The denial of equal treatment, civil liberties and opportunity to individuals or groups with respect to education, accommodation, health care, employment and access to services, goods and facilities. Behaviour that results from prejudiced attitudes by individuals or institiutions, resulting in unequal outcomes for persons who are perceived as different.  Differential treatment that may occur on the basis of race, nationality, gender, age, religion, political or ethnic affiliation, sexual orientation, marital or family status, physical, developmental or mental disability. Includes the denial of cultural, economic, educational, political and/or social rights of members of non-dominant groups.

A term used to encompass all the various differences among people including race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic status, etc. and commonly used in the United States and increasingly in Canada to describe workplace programs aimed at reducing discrimination promoting equality of opportunity and outcome for all groups. Concern has been expressed by anti-racism and race relations practitioners that diversity programs may water down efforts to combat racism in all its forms. The presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within a group, organization, or society. The dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to, ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, physical and intellectual ability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status.

Considered the most powerful and privileged of groups in a particular society or context. The dominant group in Canada is white, Christian, male and English speaking, perceiving themselves to be superior to and more privileged than Aboriginal Peoples, Black People and other people of colour or people of minority religious or linguistic groups. (See Majority)