Diversity Terms to Know

It’s important to use certain words accurately when discussing diversity issues with your colleagues and clients. Learn the correct uses for the following terms.

Ethnic, ethnicity: These words have a Greek root, and mean people, nation, and foreign. The traditional dictionary sense is one of “pertaining to a social group within a culture and social system that claims or is accorded special status on the basis of complex, often variable traits including religion, linguistic, ancestral, or physical characteristics.” (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language) In some areas of the country, local usage reserves “ethnic” to describe immigrant groups, especially those of recent arrival, but not to African American or Caucasian Americans.

Race: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines race as “a local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted characteristics.” It is primarily applied to the context of demographic data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and other sources of population statistics.

Minority: Although commonly used, this word is displeasing to many people because it suggests an inferior social position relative to the majority of the population of white Americans. Its original statistical meaning has been obscured by the frequent application of the term to women who are not a statistical minority. We often use the term to refer to any racial or ethnic group that is numerically less than half the general population.

Excerpted from “At Home With Diversity®” and the “International Real Estate for Local Markets” (formerly “Essentials of International Real Estate”) courses from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. "International Real Estate for Local Markets” is the first of six international courses developed by NAR’s international section and is required to earn the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation. “At Home with Diversity®” is a six-hour NAR certificate course that trains real estate professionals to incorporate cultural skills into their business to reach a growing, multicultural market. This entry-level program provides REALTORS® with continuing education credit and credit towards the Performance Management Network (PMN), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS®), and CIPS designations. To learn more about the “At Home With Diversity” course, click here.To learn more about the CIPS designation, click here.

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