Basic terms on equality and diversity
There are several specific basic terms on the topics of equality and diversity. This page collects and explains the most important ones.
For questions on how to deal with diversity dimensions in the military service, see the FAQ and corresponding answers.
Bisexuality
Refers to bisexual desires toward men and women or people of the same and other genders.
Cis
By cis people we mean people whose gender identify matches the sex that was registered at birth.
Discrimination
Discrimination or disadvantage refers to unlawful behaviour toward people or groups based on personal traits such as gender, sexual orientation or being part of another social group. Simply put: discrimination is when people are treated worse or are worse off than others because of a personal characteristic or because they are part of a certain group, without legal foundation. This is the case, for example, when someone is devalued because they are female, non-heterosexual or trans.
Equality
Equality means that people are of equal value and have the same opportunities and rights.
Gender
(Administrative) gender here refers to the officially registered gender of a person as ‹male› or ‹female›.
Gender identity
Gender identity refers to a person’s inner sense of self with respect to gender. Gender identity can match the sex which was registered at birth (cisgender), but it can also differ from it (transgender). In this report we differentiate between cis and trans people, as well as between binary and nonbinary trans people.
Heterosexuality
Refers to heterosexual desires between men and women respectively to the other gender. Non-heterosexuality accordingly refers to desires that are not or not exclusively oriented to the other gender and encompasses all other sexualities and asexuality.
Homosexuality
Refers to homosexual desires between men (gay) or between women (lesbian).
Nonbinary
Nonbinary people do not identify as exclusively women or male and therefore also do not identify with the sex registered at birth. Nonbinary counts as a form of trans identity.
Queer
The term «queer» is used as generic term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people (LGBTQ). Under «queer» we also include people who would generally be referred to, for example with «*» or «+».
Sexual orientation
The term sexual orientation describes, to what gender a person feels sexually drawn to. This includes, among others heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality.
Sexualised nonverbal violence
Sexualised nonverbal violence refers to looks and gestures with sexualised meaning. Whistling can also be part of sexualised nonverbal violence.
Sexualised physical violence
Sexualised physical violence refers to actions such as unwanted holding, kisses, hugs or other touching, including assault and rape.
Sexualised psychological violence
Sexualised psychological violence here refers to all forms of sexualised violence that damage and hurt a person emotionally, for example threats or stalking.
Sexualised verbal violence
In this survey, sexualised verbal violence refers to sexist remarks and slogans, insults, verbal threats and offensive jokes, sexual innuendo or obscene remarks based on gender (including trans identity) or sexual orientation.
Sexualised violence
Sexualised violence is the generic term for any unwanted or forced action with sexualised meaning. Behaviour that violates personal boundaries is also considered sexualised violence. Sexualised violence is prohibited and, like discrimination, constitutes a violation of human rights. We use the term sexualised violence to emphasise that it is not about consensual sexuality, but about violence which is perpetrated in sexualised ways or with sexual motives.
Trans
By trans people we refer to people whose gender identity does not match the sex that was registered at birth. There are binary (male/female) and nonbinary trans people. Simply put: The social gender and biological sex do not correspond here. This means: A person who knows he is a man, but who was born biologically female, is a (binary) trans man. Conversely, a person who is born biologically male who knows she is a woman, is a trans woman. Whether or not a person undergoes sex change or gender confirming surgery is their decision.
Violence
Violence is when a person causes harm or injury to another person. Violence appears in different forms, such as physical, psychological, domestic, digital and sexualised violence. Multiple forms of violence can overlap.
Contact
Specialised Office for Women in the Armed Forces and Diversity
Swiss Armed Forces
Training and Education Command
Papiermühlestrasse 14
CH - 3003 Bern
Monday – Friday: 08:00 – 17:00 Uhr
Phone: +41 58 480 50 00
E-Mail: contact.fiad@vtg.admin.ch