Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Policy Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Marginalized Communities

Marginalized Communities

Noun

Groups that are and have been confined to a lower status in society due to the unfair structures created by society. Such a group is denied involvement in mainstream economic, political, cultural and social activities, resulting in inequitable outcomes.  

Use “structurally marginalized” communities and/or populations to be very clear that this a result of unfair and unjust systems. 

Instead of using terms like “disadvantaged”, “underprivileged” and/or “vulnerable” to describe communities that have been structurally marginalized, consider using “disinvested” and/or “under-resourced”.

Source

Adapted from Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center

The Glossary for Culture Transformation is a living document to be revised on an annual basis.

Suggested Citation: Office of Equity, Vitality, and Inclusion, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, and Boston University Medical Group. Glossary for Culture Transformation. 2021.

For questions or suggestions, please email wordsmatter@bu.edu