Discrimination and Race

Question 1

What is race?

Answer 1

Many different stances as race is a complex construct:
A biological concept - Inherited, physical characteristics e.g. hair, skin colour
A social construct - Community, upbringing, socialisation, language

Question 2

What is racism?

Answer 2

“An ideology, or belief system that is designed to justify and rationalise racial and ethnic inequality” - (Marger 2012, p.25; Saha 2021).
“It is behaviour aimed at denying members of particular ethnic groups equal access to societal rewards.” - (Marger 2012, p.57; Saha 2021)

Question 3

What are the nine characteristics?

Answer 3

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and Maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual Orientation

Question 4

What does the Equality Act 2019 aim to do?

Answer 4

To prevent discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to discriminate against workers based on the nine protected characteristics.

Question 5

What are the four types of discrimination?

Answer 5

• Direct
• Indirect
• Harrassment
• Victimisation

Question 6

Direct discrimination

Answer 6

Where a person is treated less favourably because of their race. E.g pay inequality, segregation

Question 7

Indirect discrimination

Answer 7

A rule or practice which is applied to everyone, but puts people from another race at a disadvantage. E.g. hair codes at workplace

Question 8

Harrassment

Answer 8

Unwanted conduct which violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.

Question 9

Victimisation

Answer 9

Treating someone less favourable because they have tried to exercise their rights under the Equality Act or because they helped someone exercise their rights.

Question 10

Positive Action

Answer 10

• Means treating people who share a protected characteristic more favourably.
• Positive action is only lawful if it involves taking proportionate action to help address imbalances in the workplace.
• Appointments are still made on merit of skill and experiences but positive action allows under-represented groups with protected characteristics to overcome barriers when competing with other applicants.
• Positive action can be used to attract people into roles where they are currently underrepresented.
  E.g. organising training for people who have been disadvantaged.