1. Initiatives
  2. Student Experiences Survey
  3. Survey Definitions

Survey Definitions

Term Definition
Cisgender A person is cisgender when that person’s gender identity is consistent with that person’s sex assigned at birth.
Consent

Consent means an active, direct, voluntary and conscious choice and agreement to engage in sexual activity. For additional clarity:

i) a person who is “incapacitated” due to the consumption of drugs or alcohol or due to some other reason cannot give Consent;
(ii) a person who has been threatened or coerced into engaging in sexual activity is not Consenting to it;
(iii) the fact that Consent was given in the past to a sexual, dating or intimate partner does not mean that Consent can be assumed to be given for any future sexual activity;
(iv) consent may be compromised where individuals are in a position of power, trust or authority over the person whose Consent is required;
(v) consent, once given, is revocable, at any time;
(vi) consent cannot be given on behalf of another person; and
(vii) consent is active and not passive or silent.
(To) Disclose To disclose means to share information about an incident of Sexual Violence with the University for the purpose of receiving support, counselling or accommodation or to obtain information about how to make a complaint.
Discrimination Discrimination is when someone, or a group of people, are treated differently than others based on certain characteristics, that results in them experiencing burdens, obligations, or disadvantages, or not having access to opportunities, benefits, or advantages available to others. The characteristics of those experiencing discrimination may relate to their race, religion, sexual identity, gender, place of origin, age, marital status, and several other grounds protected by Ontario’s Human Rights Code. For more, see the FAQ download on the Secretariat's site
Diversity In broad terms, diversity is any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups and people from one another. It refers to differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, ability, sexual orientation, faith, socio-economic status and class. But it also includes differences in life experiences, learning and working styles and personality types that can be engaged to achieve excellence.
Equity Guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity. Goes beyond formal equality; differential treatment according to need may be required
Gender expression How a person expresses or presents gender through behaviours and appearance.
Gender Identity Gender identity refers to one’s internal knowledge or experience of one’s gender, which may or may not be expressed publicly
Harassment Harassment is when someone says or does something that is unwarranted and or unwanted that will annoy or cause difficulties that they know, or should know, is unwelcome by the person or group it is directed toward.
Identity That part of an individual’s self-concept which derives from their knowledge of their membership of a social group (or groups) together with the emotional significance attached to that membership.
Inclusion Inclusion is the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity, where each person is valued and provided with the opportunity to participate fully in creating a successful and thriving community. It means recognizing the value that comes from the distinctive skills, experiences, and perspectives of all members of our community.
Indigenous

In the context of this voluntary self-identification question, an Indigenous person in Canada, as recognized in the Constitution Act, 1982, is a person who identifies with First Nations (Status/Non- Status), Metis, or Inuit ancestral background.

  • First Nations: This term refers to all Indigenous Peoples who are not of Inuit or Métis descent, regardless of their legal standing (Status or Non-Status) under the Indian Act, 1985.

  • Métis: One of three Peoples recognized as Indigenous by the Constitution Act, 1982. The Métis are a distinct Indigenous Peoples with a unique culture, language, and heritage. Their ancestral homeland includes Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.

  • Inuit: One of three Peoples recognized as Indigenous by the Constitution Act, 1982. The Inuit are Indigenous or First Peoples representing four Inuit regions in Canada with a separate origin, culture and identity. The regions are Nunatsiavut (Labrador), Nunavik (northern Quebec), Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the Northwest Territories.
Microaggressions Insults, invalidations, and slights directed at marginalized groups that typically go unnoticed by perpetrators and bystanders.
On-Campus On-Campus means property owned, rented, or otherwise used by the University.
Off Campus Off-Campus means places other than property owned, rented, or otherwise used by the University
Sex Sex is the anatomical classification of people as male, female or intersex, usually assigned at birth. A category usually assigned at birth based on biological (e.g., chromosomes) and anatomical (e.g., genitalia) features; usually limited to male and female.
Sexual Assault Sexual Assault means any form of sexual contact without Consent. Sexual Assault includes unwanted kissing, fondling, touching, oral or anal sex, vaginal intercourse or other forms of penetration, or any unwanted act of a sexual nature that is imposed by one person onto another without Consent.
Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment means a course of vexatious comment, conduct and/or communication of a sexual nature or based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identify or gender expression that is known, or ought to have been known, to be unwelcome. Depending on the circumstances, one incident could be significant or substantial enough to be considered sexual harassment. Sexual harassment includes but is not limited to:

  • unwanted sexual solicitations, attention, advances, or comments and gestures (including songs and chants);

  • the display of sexually suggestive pictures, posters, objects or graffiti;

  • the implied or express promise of benefits or advancement in return for sexual favours;

  • threats of reprisals for rejecting unwanted solicitations or advances;

  • engaging in conduct or making comments that creates a poisoned environment to individuals of a specific sex, sexual identify, gender identify or gender expression;

  • non-consensual posting of pictures, aggressive comments and slurs of a sexual nature on any form of social media or other electronic media.;

  • physical contact of a sexual nature (including Sexual Assault); and

  • sexual conduct that interferes with an individual's dignity or privacy such as voyeurism and exhibitionism
Sexual orientation / attraction Sexual orientation / attraction refers to one's inherent emotional, romantic and/or sexual attraction to other people. Sexual orientation or attraction is usually described in terms of the individual's gender as well as the gender or genders of those to whom that individual is attracted.
Sexual Violence Sexual violence means any sexual act or act targeting a person's sexuality, gender identity or gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened or attempted against a person without the person's Consent, and includes things such as: Sexual Assault; Sexual Harassment; stalking; indecent exposure; voyeurism; and sexual exploitation
Student A student in this survey means any person who is registered, full-time or part-time, in a course or program of study, including a non-degree diploma or certificate (whether for credit or not), offered through the University. "Student" also means persons registered at Queen's on a letter of permission and persons on exchange at Queen's.
Student Group Student group means any extracurricular organization or club that is recognized or ratified by the University, by a student government, or, by any authorized agent of the University.
Transgender / Trans Transgender / trans refers to a person who identifies with a gender other than the one assigned to them at birth, or to a person whose gender identity and gender expression differs from stereotypical masculine and feminine norms. It is sometimes used as an umbrella term for those who identify as transgender, transsexual, trans, gender variant, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or a similar term
University Community University community includes, without limitation, employees, students, volunteers, visiting professors, contractors, visitors, student Groups and other individuals who live, work, or study at, or carry out services for, Queen’s.
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