You are YOU
We are insertional beings, different from everyone. 

We want to make sure that we are acknowledging some common language and definitions about our identities that make us unique. We would also like to recognize that although these do not cover all social identities, these can help us begin the conversation around social identity. ​

Big 9 Identities & Definitions 

1. Age
2. Race 
   1. ​Socially constructed method of categorization based on a person’s set of physical characteristics (e.g. hair color, skin color, or eye color).  Individuals may racially identify with a single race or as bi- or multiracial. It is important to note racial groups are not monoliths and that the significance and meaning of race varies across individuals within each racial group.
3. Religion/spirituality
   1. One's identity over a set of beliefs. 
4. Gender identity
   1. ​One's innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.
5. Ethnicity
   1.  Refers to various cultural factors, such as nationality, regional culture, ancestry, and language.
6. Socioeconomic status
   1. ​A position in a socially-ranked system determined by an individual’s education, income, and occupation/occupational prestige.

 Sexual orientation 
​An inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people. 
When people think of sexual orientation it is often in relation to straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and other non-heterosexual identities (LGBQ+*)

Ability 
Physical, Emotional, or Developmental 
Hidden or visible 
​
Immigration/documentation status 
Refers to the experience of someone, based on their documented or undocumented identity 
Experiences vary from person to person. For example, a person who is undocumented may have:
Submitted immigration application/petition that was denied and continued to remain in the U.S.
Entered the U.S. without inspection
Entered the U.S. legally and immigration status has since expired