EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DIVERSITY

GENDER RACE DISABILITY SEXUAL ORIENTATION RELIGIOUS BELIEF AGE

CONTENTS – EO&D

1. Statistical Evidence of Disadvantage

2. What do we mean by EO&D? Theoretical Approaches, and Ideologies

3. The History, Politics and Economics

4. The Legislation

5. The Policy Process

6. The European Union: Influence and Effects on UK EO&D

7. Cross-national Comparative Approaches to EO&D in other EU member states

8. Future Agenda

Multiple Disadvantage

Multiple Disadvantage

crude idea of ‘adding up’ disadvantages more sophisticated level

Disadvantages not cumulative but interactional

Effect runs more than one way Racism is infected & changed by sexism for

black women Sexism they encounter is infected and

changed by racism

Intersectionality

Intersectionality

Chapter 1 - methodological tool to analyse and expose complex nature of both homogeneity and heterogeneity of disadvantage between & within social groups

Chapter 2 - theory to further understand concept of EO&D.

Chapter 5 tests usefulness as a policy making tool

Chapter 6 examines consequences of intersectional discourse in EU policy making

Chapter 1

examination statistical evidence - extent & nature of advantage & disadvantage on grounds of gender, race, disability, religion & belief, sexual orientation & age

identifies continuing and consistent disadvantage, particularly in social differentiation of gender

examination of interaction & amplification of disadvantage across & within different social categories using intersectional approach, e.g. gender & race, gender & disability, etc.

Questions for Discussion

Does racial discrimination amplify sex discrimination?

How far is racial discrimination tempered by religion?

How many social divisions and which ones should be incorporated into an intersectional analysis of disadvantage?

Should it concern us that the list may be boundless?

Chapter 2

explores myths & realties behind concept of EO&D

examines concepts of prejudice & discrimination & gives examples of prejudice that still exists in Britain today, including racism, sexism, disablism, homophobia, Islamophobia and ageism

discusses & analyses definitions of EO&D considers some theories and ideologies linked to

EO&D examines concepts of individual and institutional

discrimination investigates concept of social justice

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Should we treat everyone the same? What is the most convincing case for

EO&D? What does Diversity add to the concept of

Equal Opportunities? What would your definition of EO&D look

like?

Chapter 3

sets out & examines historical development of EO&D policies & legislation in context of major driving forces and catalysts

within this analysis considers ideological background

highlights politics of EO&D by charting & exploring development in the UK through five distinct eras

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Which has been the most effective era for EO&D?

Would EO&D policies have developed without social movements’ campaigns?

What will be the main drivers for change in EO&D in the future?

Are we moving into a new ‘era’ for EO&D?

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

examines most significant Acts in both GB & Northern Ireland

directly relevant legislation - major anti-discrimination Acts, and duties in the devolved legislatures (NI, Scotland, Wales)

Indirect legislation (family-friendly policies, Human Rights Act, immigration & asylum legislation)

compares & contrasts approaches of ‘equal treatment’, ‘positive action’, and ‘positive discrimination’

interrogates ‘same treatment’ versus ‘different treatment’ approach

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Who should be the targets of EO&D legislation & why?

Who else could be the targets of EO&D legislation & why?

Legislation, eliminating overt discrimination, encourage covert & more subtle forms of discrimination, harder to uncover and eliminate, how can this be avoided?

How could EO&D legislation take into account multiple discrimination and an intersectional approach?

Chapter 5

examines UK enforcement agencies at national and devolved level; ‘institutional architecture’

analyses single Equality and Human Rights Commission its implications for EO&D project

examines potential for NI approach to ‘Equality Diversity Mainstreaming’ as model combined with an Intersectional approach to policy making.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

What potential effect will single EHRC have for EO&D development?

Can we successfully take EO&D legislation out of its separate boxes?

Can EO&D policies successfully take into account multiple discrimination?

Can we expand gender mainstreaming to EO&D mainstreaming?

Is it practical to have an intersectional framework for analysis of the EO&D policy process?

Chapter 6

analyses contribution of EU to EO&D policies in UK

sets this analysis in the context of changes in national governments and their differing attitudes to the EU, from the 1970s to the present day

examines EU Equal Opportunities Year for All, 2007

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Why did EU concentrate on EO&D in area of gender?

Has this inhibited development in other areas of EO&D in the UK?

Will EU continue to have an impact on EO&D and in what ways?

Chapter 7

cross-national & comparative examination of some EU member states & their interpretation & implementation of EU Directives

interrogates possibility of categorising differing approaches across member states into ideal types

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

What type of ‘gender culture’ persists in the UK?

How is this reinforced by UK EO&D policies?

Chapter 8

critiques EO&D as limited liberal concept examines where EO&D legislation and policies likely

to go in future investigates how relevant concepts of EO&D are likely

to remain in social policy & where the main issues are likely to arise

takes deeper look at how terrain of EO&D is changing considers future of EO&D in the context of important

questions of how a balance is to be struck between need to treat people equally, need to treat people differently, need to maintain shared values & social cohesion, & how to handle negotiations over contested issues

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Main weakness in EO&D legislation arises from conceptualisation of equality as treating people the same?

The race & sex discrimination legislation embody a symmetrical approach to an asymmetrical social problem (i.e. men and white people not discriminated against to extent that women and minority ethnic workers are, yet equally protected). Should this be so?

Are some disadvantages more substantial than others?

What is the best way to resolve contentious issues of conflicting interests?