EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY IN SOCIETY

D/506/2234

Assessment 1.1: Equality

(The reference in brackets at the end of each task refers to the assessment
criteria for the learning outcomes of this qualification and is for your
tutors/assessors use.)
1. Describe what is meant by equality. (1.1)
Equality is ensuring that no individual or group of individuals are treat less favourably
because of their race, religion, gender, disability, age and sexual orientation. Ideally all
individuals should be treat equally and fairly and have equal access to important services
such as health care and education.

2. Define the following terms. (1.2)

Stereotyping:
An oversimplified and often fixed image or idea of a particular individual, group or thing,
i.e. The stereotype of the wife being responsible for the cleaning and ironing is a sexual
stereotype.
Prejudice:
An unjustifiable and incorrect attitude (Nearly always negative) towards an individual
based upon their membership of a particular social group. (Race, Religion or belief,
Gender, Sexual Orientation, disability) i.e. A person may be prejudice against another
individual because of their race.
Labelling:
Labelling is a tool human beings use to categorise the things we perceive in the
environment. As we grow up labelling allows us to easily recognise those things that we
see without having to be too specific, i.e. we dont need to know that the tree is an Ash
tree to talk about it as we have subconsciously labelled it as a tree. In the context of
equality labelling can be a dangerous tool as it can present a negative connotation to
those labelled and can often affect their self-esteem or act as a motivation to act in a
manner associated with the label, i.e. If a teacher continually criticises and calls a child
stupid because they are unable to answer their question, the child in the long run may
start to believe the negative labelling and not bother trying in school and therefore, live
up to the label.
Protected characteristics:
The equality Act of 2010 covers 9 protected characteristics on the grounds upon
discrimination is unlawful. The following are the characteristics listed in the Act:
Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and
maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Equal Opportunity
Equal opportunity seeks to prohibit certain types of discrimination whilst promoting
equality of opportunities between individuals of differing status or circumstance.
Positive action:
To support the needs of under-represented individuals or groups the Equality Act allows
service providers to take action that may involve treating one group more favourably
where this is a proportionate way to help members of that group overcome a
disadvantage or participate more fully, or in order to meet needs they have that are
different from the population as a whole. This is called positive action.
Discrimination:
Discrimination is whereby an individual or group are treated differently than others would
be in a particular situation. Discrimination is usually based upon prejudice, i.e. recent
death of a black student in Miami said to be caused by a white police officers prejudice
Pete Mason

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view of their behaviour. Would the office have acted so violently in curtailing the student
if they had been white?
Discrimination by association:
This is whereby an individual is treat less fairly due to their association with a member or
group of people categorised under the protected characteristics. i.e. An individual
maybe harassed by their colleagues because they are married to a Muslim. The
harassment would be based upon their partners religious beliefs and not the individuals
beliefs.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY IN SOCIETY

D/506/2234

3. Describe three examples of equal opportunity in society. (1.3)

Education in this country is meant to offer equal opportunities to all children and offer all
students equal access to good teaching. In reality, due to location of school or
ineffective management not all education offers are the same. To combat this Ofsted
inspects and regulates educational facilities on a regular basis and their
recommendations are then acted on by government agencies whom can then
recommend that the failing school become an Academy. The purpose of the Academy is
to improve teaching and achievement rates for students through sponsorship in turn
allowing students equal access to a good education compared to other schools in the
country.

4. Describe three examples of inequality in society. (1.4)

BME representatives at manager level amongst English Premier league football clubs. It
is a well documented fact that former footballers of BME origin do not get the
opportunities to manage in the Premier League compared to their white peers. Such is
the disparity that the Premier League is now looking to adopt the Rooney rule from the
American NFL. The rule requires that a club interview candidates from a BME
background for senior footballing roles. When implemented it will be a sign of positive
action.

Pete Mason

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