Glossary

In our ongoing efforts to fairer partnerships in global health, we’ve developed this comprehensive glossary list. This tool is designed to help us communicate more effectively and thoughtfully when discussing this crucial subject. By providing clear and shared definitions of key terms and concepts, our glossary list aims to promote a deeper understanding and a more inclusive dialogue in our mission to  be good collaborators across BUSPH activities – Research (Think.), Teaching (Teach.), Practice (Do.).

Colonization 

The action or process of settling among and establishing control over the Indigenous people and resources of a geographical area.(Sharma & Sam-Agudu, 2023)

Decolonization 

The process of freeing an institution, a sphere of activity, the mind, etc, from the effects-for example, the cultural, social, political, or academic effects-of colonization. (Sharma & Sam-Agudu, 2023)

White supremacy 

The belief that white people constitute a superior race and should therefore dominate society, typically to the exclusion or detriment of other racial and ethnic groups.(Sharma & Sam-Agudu, 2023)

Glocalization

The interplay between global and local factors, and is used in business, sociology, and urban planning.(Anand & Pai, 2023)

Intersectionality

The complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups. (Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Intersectionality., 2023)

Health equity

Health equity is the principle underlying the continual process of assuring that all individuals or populations have optimal opportunities to attain the best health possible. (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities,.. 2023, n.d.)

Allyship

An active, consistent, and arduous practice of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person in a position of privilege and power seeks to operate in solidarity with a marginalized group.(“THE ANTI-OPPRESSION NETWORK,” 2011)

Global Health

Global health is an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. 

(Towards a common defi nition of global health)

Power asymmetry

The unequal distribution of different types of resources (like money, knowledge or political authority) across the array of actors involved in governance arrangements affecting health.

(Power asymmetries in global governance for health)

Inclusion

A culture that connects each individual to the organization; encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness; and leverages diversity throughout the organization so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

(An Argument for Diversity and Inclusion in Public Health)

Diversity

Inclusion of diverse identities defined as non-White racial/ethnic/color/nationality categories, gender or gender identities, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, income/class/socioeconomic status, religion/creed, political perspective or associational preference, and family or parental status.

(What Do Schools of Public Health Have to Say About Diversity and Inclusion?)

Structural racism

Laws, rules, or official policies in a society that result in and support a continued unfair advantage to some people and unfair or harmful treatment of others based on race.

(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary)

Ableism 

Refers to bias. prejudice, and discrimination against people with disabilities. Hinges on the idea that people with disabilities are less valuable than nondisabled people.

(What is ableism, and what is its impact?)

*Please note that our glossary will be updated regularly to reflect the evolving language and discourse surrounding decolonizing global health ensuring its relevance and accuracy.