---
title: "Vocabulary: social awareness"
description: "Know and use the vocabulary of social awareness — including stereotype, prejudice, discrimination, equality, equity, bias, compassion, and fairness — and understand what distinguishes these closely re"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/vocabulary-social-awareness-mt_a6AYrbb7x4
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/vocabulary-social-awareness-mt_a6AYrbb7x4.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Vocabulary: social awareness

Know and use the vocabulary of social awareness — including stereotype, prejudice, discrimination, equality, equity, bias, compassion, and fairness — and understand what distinguishes these closely related concepts

Subject: Personal & Social Development · Area: Empathy & Social Awareness · Ages 7 to 11
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/vocabulary-social-awareness-mt_a6AYrbb7x4

## Ready when they can

- Explain what 'stereotype' and 'prejudice' mean and give an example of each from everyday life
- Use words like 'equality', 'equity', and 'bias' correctly when discussing a scenario — e.g. 'That's not equity because not everyone got what they needed'
- Identify an example of discrimination in a story or news article and explain why it is unfair using the correct vocabulary

## Lesson: Words for fair and unfair

Some words help us talk about how people treat each other. A stereotype is a big idea about a whole group, like 'all girls like pink.' It isn't true for every person in that group. Prejudice is a feeling about someone before you really know them, often based on a stereotype.

**Example.** Three friends want to reach a shelf. Mia is tall, Sam is medium, and Zoe is short. If they each get one box, that's equality: the same amount for everyone. But Zoe still can't reach! If Zoe gets two boxes and Mia gets none, that's equity: everyone gets what they actually need to be fair.

*(drawing: Equity in the shelf story: tall Mia needs 0 boxes, Sam needs 1, and short Zoe needs 2. Each friend gets what they need, so all three can reach.)*

Bias is when you lean toward one side without noticing, like always picking your best friend's idea first. Bias can lead to discrimination, which means treating someone worse because of a stereotype or bias. Discrimination might mean leaving someone out or judging them for no good reason.

**Tip.** When something feels unfair, try naming it with the right word: is it a stereotype, a bias, or discrimination? Then respond with compassion, caring about how others feel, and fairness, making sure everyone gets treated right.

**Recap.** Stereotype, prejudice, bias, and discrimination describe treating people unfairly; equality, equity, compassion, and fairness describe treating people right.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Vocabulary: understanding others](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/vocabulary-understanding-others-mt_wRlf0g2MbB)

## Opens up

- [Stereotypes and Individual Differences](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/stereotypes-and-individual-differences-mt_2oswCNuapH)
- [Seeing Someone Else's Point of View](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/seeing-someone-elses-point-of-view-mt_9NQEiYLQA3)
- [Prejudice and Discrimination](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/prejudice-and-discrimination-mt_HFN1pGASpZ)
- [Fairness, Equality and Equity](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/fairness-equality-and-equity-mt_mDp-1vlL3R)
- [Different Lives and Experiences](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/different-lives-and-experiences-mt_S7UTAhptLi)