ABSTRACT
Social inequality is a major cause of compromised mental health and wellness. Each individual is located within groups of differences that have a legacy in the settler societies of North America. These groupings, including sex and gender, race and ethnicity, age, religion, class and ability, refer to characteristics that are organized hierarchically. This social hierarchy has produced categories of difference within which each of us is embedded. This analysis illustrates concepts of diversity, privilege and disadvantage. It is followed by an introduction to psychological studies of stigma, prejudice and micro-aggressions.
