Transcript Why is Promoting Equality and Diversity Important?

Definition of Equality
Equality is defined in the Scotland Act as:
“The prevention, elimination or regulation of
discrimination between persons on grounds of
sex or marital status, on racial grounds, or on
grounds of disability, age, sexual orientation,
language or social origin, or of other personal
attributes including beliefs or opinions such as
religious belief or political opinions". It ensures
that disadvantaged groups have access to
opportunities. However, it is not a minority issue;
it is everyone's responsibility and right.
Diversity
• Diversity focuses on maximising the potential of
all individuals through valuing the different
ethnic, religious and social backgrounds,
genders, sexual orientations, ages, skills, and
experiences of individuals, and seeks to utilise
these differences for the benefit of the
organisation. It recognises that 'one size does
not always fit all'. Diversity should not be used
interchangeably with equality; they both have
distinct meanings.
Why is promoting equality and
diversity important?
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Moral case
Professional obligations
Good business practice
Diversity is strength
Services delivered in a sensitive way
Legal requirements
Discrimination can be expensive
Making policy commitments a reality
The mainstreaming agenda
Widens customer and employee base
Anti-discrimination Legislation
• Sex Discrimination Act (1975)
• Race Relations Act (1976)
• Disability Discrimination Act (1995)
Cover
– Employment
– Education
– Access to Goods and Services
DDA also introduces “reasonable adjustments”
Employment regulations
• Religion and Belief
• Sexual Orientation
• Age (from Oct 2006)
Cover
– Employment
– Vocational Education
– NOT Goods and Services at present
Types of discrimination
All this legislation covers 4 types of
Discrimination
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Direct
Indirect
Harassment
Victimisation
Public Sector Duties
• Race Equality Duty
• Disability Equality Duty (Dec 2006)
• Gender Equality Duty (April 2007)
Place duties on public sector bodies not
just to prevent discrimination but to
promote equality of opportunity
Attitudes and Values
• An assumption is an opinion made without the
basis of fact
• A stereotype is an opinion, based on a
generalisation about a whole group or category
of people, for example, women drivers.
• A prejudice is a preconceived idea i.e. a
prejudgement made not on the basis of fact.
Commonly the word is used to mean a negative
opinion as in “being prejudiced against
something”. It is usually based on an assumption