This site contains information to use as reference for an understanding of protected identities and it relates to reports of Discrimination, Hate, and Bias. Descriptions below are taken from law or regulatory agencies. Being a member of a group(s) or having a protected identity(ies) is self-reported.
Subcategories
Race: Categorization based on ancestry or physical or cultural characteristics such as skin color, hair texture or styles, or certain facial features[1].
Color: A person’s skin pigmentation (lightness or darkness of the skin), complexion, shade, or tone[2].
Religion: Sincerely held religious beliefs, which may include traditional, organized religions (such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism) or other sincerely held religious, ethical, or moral beliefs[3].
Sex: Sex discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of that person's sex, including the person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy[4].
Discrimination against an individual because of gender identity, including transgender status, or because of sexual orientation is discrimination because of sex in violation of Title VII.
Age: The chronological length of time a person has lived. In the employment context, discrimination based on age means a person 40 years of age or older[5].
National Origin: A person’s affiliation to a particular country or part of the world. This may include: ethnicity, ancestry, accent, or being the spouse or partner of a person of a certain national origin[6].
Sexual Orientation: An individual’s physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to people of the same and/or different gender. Examples of sexual orientations include straight (or heterosexual), lesbian, gay, and bisexual[7].
Gender Identity or Expression: A person’s gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s physiology or assigned sex at birth[8].
Disability: A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; a record of having such impairment; or being regarded as having such impairment[9].
Genetic Information: An individual's genetic test results; an individual’s relatives’ genetic test results (up to and including fourth-degree relatives), and/or; Information about an individual’s family history of any disease or disorder. Information about your participation in research that includes genetic testing, counseling, or education is also protected[10].
Veteran Status: Service members and veterans including disabled veterans, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam Era, and other protected veterans as defined by federal and state law [11].
Marital Status: A person’s state of being single, married, separated, divorced, or widowed. The University recognizes its community members’ decisions to employ family structures not recognized by the legal system and will respect those wherever they do not conflict with rights granted by law.
Protected Hairstyles: A person’s hairstyles or hair type, including braids, locs, tight coils or curls, cornrows, Bantu knots, Afros, twists, and headwraps[12].
