As part of my sustainable thinking award I could of have done time management or the equality & diversity workshop. I decided that the equality and diversity workshop would benefit me more. I think that I am already caught up on this matter pretty well but wanted to get some advise on what we have to do when I come across people who may struggle with equality and diversity.
We started the workshop discussing what equality and diversity actually mean. A lot of people may think that is it giving everyone the same chance or resources when it actually means giving everyone the same opportunities and in some cases some people might need different resources to get that. This image below is probably the most popular and easiest for explaining equality. All boys want to see the game but they are different highs, the taller boy doesn’t need a box, the middle only needs one and the shortest needs 2. In the second photo all of the boys have the same opportunity to see the game but were given different resources which are represented by the box.
The Equality Act 2010
In 2010 The Equality Act was processed that highlight 9 protected characteristics.
AGE – this could happen to people who are considered too young or too old for a specific job
DISABILITY – This involves physical and mental disability
GENDER REASSIGNMENT – this involves planning, undergoing or have already undergone gender reassignment
MARRIAGE OR CIVIL PARTNERS – This mostly happens to same sex couples
PREGNANCY OR MATERNITY – women are protected from being treated less favorably due to pregnancy or motherhood
RACE – this involves people of different colour, nationality or ethnic or national orgin
RELIGION OR BELIEF – this involves religion or beliefs or their lack of
SEX – both men and women
SEXUAL ORIENTATION – this involves heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual
We also described the difference examples of direct, indirect, harassment and victimisation in a work/school place.
Direct – When someone refuses to serve someone in a bar because they are ‘clearly’ gay.
Indirect – When an employer sets a language text where literacy and fluency in English is not necessary.
Harassment – When a college treats someone different because they wear a turban.
Victimization – When someone with a mental disability is told they are no longer welcome in a social setting because someone else complained to a manager.
Personal Action Plan
Stop doing
Everyone judges but try not to act on it, especially on the 9 characteristics from The Equal Act 2010.
Start doing
Try to stand up to people who may not be following The Equal Act 2010.
Continue doing
Being kind to everyone in a work/school place
Renata Rzepecka 