Equality & Protected Characteristics

Question 1

what are the key objective for any society, including any work or educational environment?

Answer 1

Trying to achieve equality, fairness and justice
Avoid discrimination, unconscious bias and
microaggressions
Treating others with respect and offer support: other students, staff and patients (“be there for one another”)

Question 2

What is unconscious bias?

Answer 2

How a person thinks can depend on their life experiences and sometimes they have beliefs and views about other people that might not be right or reasonable.
When a person thinks:
better of someone because they believe they’re alike less of someone because that person is different to them
This means they could make a decision influenced by false beliefs or assumptions. Sometimes it’s also called ‘stereotyping’.
It’s important to be aware of it and not let it affect behaviour or decisions.

Question 3

Unconscious bias, stereotyping and
discrimination can be based on:

Answer 3

One of the 9 protected characteristics by the law (Equality Act): e.g. sex, race, religion, age or sexual orientation
Other characteristics not protected by the law: e.g. class (socioeconomic background), body shape, where people grew up, what family they come from or what schools they went to

Question 4

what are the 9 Equality Act protected characteristics?

Answer 4

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender reassignment
4. Marriage and civil partnership
5. Race
6. Religion or belief
7. Sex
8. Pregnancy and maternity
9. Sexual orientation

Question 5

what is equality vs equity?

Answer 5

Equality involves giving everyone the exact same resources irrespective of their needs i.e., everyone has the same starting point.
Whereas equity involves distributing resources based on the needs of the recipients i.e., everyone can have the same finishing line

Question 6

define harassment and victimisation?

Answer 6

Harassment: Any action taken to degrade or humiliate someone in an interaction. It does not require repeated offence.
Victimisation: Treating someone badly due to them making a complaint of discrimination. May also occur by association

Question 7

what is age discrimination?

Answer 7

Being treated disadvantageously because of your age
Being discriminated against for employment or a promotion based on your age
Young people and older people are usually outcompeted by middle aged people.
“Assume they are able to work for long/they’ll be more productive”
Access to healthcare is harder to access healthcare if you are not in a vulnerable age bracket older people will access healthcare more easily.

Question 8

what is race discrimination?

Answer 8

Being treated disadvantageously because of your race
Racial discrimination can be made on the following fronts:
Skin colour
Nationality
Ethnic group
People from black and ethnic minorities are generally more likely to have worse health outcomes and are less likely to get treatment.
This may be due to implicit bias in the decision making of clinicians.