How much modern terminology do you understand?

Think of the gender identities and sexual orientations – as well as the generation qualities that date back to the 1900s. If this sentence leaves you wondering, then the question is, how much modern terminology do you understand?

Read on and we shall unpack some of the mystery but remember, with terminology continually evolving, it is difficult to keep up.

In some communities it has become important to ask people what terms they use to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. The most common terms are:

• masculine: he, him, his, himself
• feminine: she, her, hers, herself
• non–binary, which is the term used to describe genders that don’t fall into one of the above two categories: they, them, theirs, themselves.

Then there is the LGBTQIAS+ acronym, which represents the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual and two-spirit communities. The + includes all sexual orientations and gender identities. If you are unfamiliar with any of these categories Google is a great help!

We also have the seven generations starting with Greatest Generation, born 1901-1924, followed by the Silent Generation, born 1925-1945 and the Baby Boomers, born 1946-1964. For this article we’ll focus on today’s generations:

• Generation X, born 1965-1980 tends to value independence, scepticism, and work-life balance, and are often seen as the bridge between traditional and digital worlds.
• Millennials, born 1981-1996 are often associated with being tech-savvy, diverse, and valuing experiences over possessions, and are also known for their entrepreneurial spirit and desire for meaningful work.
• Generation Z, born 1997-2012 have grown up with smartphones, social media, and instant access to information, and are characterised by their digital fluency, social awareness, and a desire for authenticity – this generation is shaping the future of work, education, and activism in an increasingly interconnected world.
• Generation Alpha, born 2013-2025 have brand influence and purchasing power beyond their years, they shape the social media landscape, are the popular culture influencers, and emerging consumers, will stay in education longer, start their earning years later and will remain at home with their parents longer than their predecessors.

Do you know the meaning of woke and where it originated? For those unfamiliar with the term, it means having an active awareness of injustices and prejudices, especially those involving the treatment of ethnic, racial, or sexual minorities. And its origin dates back to the 1940s when it was first used by African Americans to mean becoming woken up or sensitised to issues of justice.

And now remember…