Research glossary

If one objectifies something (or someone), one views it and treats it as an object for the satisfaction of one’s desire; but this is not all, for objectification is assumed to be a relation of domination where one also has the power to enforce one’s view. Objectification is not just ‘in the head’; it is actualized, embodied, imposed upon the objects of one’s desire. So if one objectifies something, one not only views it as something which would satisfy one’s desire, but one also has the power to make it have the properties one desires it to have.

Obstetric violence refers to disrespectful, abusive, or non-consensual treatment during pregnancy, childbirth, or postnatal care. It happens in healthcare settings when medical staff ignore a person’s dignity, autonomy, or right to informed consent.

This can include performing procedures without proper explanation or permission, dismissing someone’s pain, humiliating them during labour, or pressuring them into certain medical decisions.

Example: A healthcare worker performing an episiotomy without explaining the procedure or asking for consent, or telling a woman in labour that she is “being dramatic” instead of providing support.

Online harassment is a form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. It is the use of the Internet to bully, harass, threaten, or maliciously embarrass someone. It can involve behaviours such as sending an unsolicited and/or threatening e-mail, spreading rumours, making defamatory comments, sending negative messages, impersonation, sending pornography or other graphic material that is knowingly offensive or creating online content that depicts someone in negative ways.

a case where the investigation is ongoing.

Taking advantage of the immediate circumstances or the availability of an opportunity to commit illegal sexual
behavior, such as a teenager molesting a child while babysitting (National Center on Sexual Behavior of
Youth, 2003).

The unilateral subjugation of one individual or group by a more powerful individual or group, using physical, psychological, social or economic threats or force, and frequently using an explicit ideology to sanction the oppression. Refers also to the injustices suffered by marginalized groups in their everyday interactions with members of the dominant group, or with the social systems that reinforce the dominant group’s social position. The marginalized groups usually lack avenues to express reaction to disrespect, inequality, injustice and lack of response to their situation by individuals and institutions that can make improvements.

Systems of oppression are discriminatory institutions, structures, norms, to name a few, that are embedded in the fabric of our society… In the context of social justice, oppression is discrimination against a social group that is backed by institutional power. That is to say, the various societal institutions such as culture, government, education, etc. are all complicit in the oppression of marginalized social groups while elevating dominant social groups

The systematic subjugation of a group of people by another group with access to social power, the result of
which benefits one group over the other (Green and Peterson, 2006

a physical response at the climax of
sexual excitement

Outing refers to the act of revealing a LGBTQ+ individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation without their consent. Outing is usually done to instrumentalize homophobia with the intent to discredit others or to promote homophobia by outing a prominent individual.