Direct and indirect discrimination Flashcards
What is discrimination?
Discrimination involves treating individuals unfairly and not providing them with equal opportunities as a result of a personal characteristic. This can take the form of direct or indirect discrimination
What is direct discrimination?
Intentionally or purposefully treating someone unfairly because of their differences
What is indirect discrimination?
Where a policy, rule or practice applies to everyone but results in a particular group of people being disadvantaged (i.e. it is unintentional)
Direct or indirect discrimination and why?
In a job interview for a role as a care assistant, a woman is told she is not suitable for the job because she is female and a male carer is needed.
Direct discrimination
She is being discriminated against as a result of her gender - suggesting she would not be suitable for the role
Direct or indirect discrimination and why?
A job advert for a catering assistant at a care home says that no headwear can be worn while carrying out the role.
Indirect discrimination
People from certain religious groups such as muslim women/Sikh men would be discriminated against
Direct or indirect discrimination and why?
An emergency services call centre has introduced a work policy which states that employees without young family and children should work more unsociable shifts (such as evenings and weekends)
Indirect discrimination
This could result in younger individuals who don’t have children being at a disadvantage (this may disproportionately affect those who are homosexual and are less likely to have children)
Direct or indirect discrimination and why?
Seb applied for a training post as a nursing assistant but was unsuccessful. When he asked why, the manager said it was due to concerns that, as he was openly-bisexual, elderly male residents would be uncomfortable with him carrying out the personal care duties the role required.
Direct discrimination
Treating him unfairly and not giving him opportunity of employment due to his sexual orientation
Direct or indirect discrimination and why?
A school plans a trip to a natural history museum. A pupil with Down’s syndrome is excluded from the trip as the school believes she will not be able to participate in the activities provided by the museum for school groups
Direct discrimination
Intentionally not giving a child the same opportunities as others due to her disability
Direct or indirect discrimination and why?
A pupil undergoing gender reassignment is told she will not be able to attend the school while she is transitioning because they do not have any suitable toilet facilities.
Direct discrimination
Not providing facilities for an individual as a result of her gender reassignment and neglecting her right to an education
Direct or indirect discrimination and why?
A school instigates a policy that no jewellery should be worn. A young woman of the Sikh religion is asked to remove her Kara bangle in line with this policy.
Indirect discrimination
Policy applies to everyone but the Kara bangle is an important part of the Sikh religion and means she does not feel included
Direct or indirect discrimination and why?
Sumara works as a support worker in a day centre for teenagers with disabilities. She asked her employer for time off or to swap shifts so she can celebrate Eid, but was refused
Direct discrimination
Not being allowed to celebrate her religion is discriminatory
