Ideologies, equality and discrimination

Ideologies, equality and discrimination

1. Equality as a right

   • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts human rights to which people in every country are entitled as human beings. In Europe this is augmented by the Convention on Human Rights agreed by the Council of Europe in 1951 and back up by the adjudications of the European Court of Human Rights ever since. In 1998 the Human Rights Act made the Convention enforceable in UK courts. Every UK citizen is equal because he or she has the same rights.

2. Equality in Practice

   • In practice, equality often means little. Unlike the poor, high-income earners can afford to buy services - health insurance, healthcare or to send their children to fee-paying schools. So unless publicly funded services are available for all and universally good, inequality is inevitable, for example:
     • Some people lack the ability, skill, talent or determination to set ambitious goals for themselves and succeed.
     • Those who are poor often have an unbalanced diet, experience significant illnesses and the die earlier than others. In parts of Glasgow, life expectancy is up to ten years lower than the UK averages. In richer areas such as Kensington and Chelsea life expectancy is well above UK averages.
     • In many areas there is a 'postcode lottery' for healthcare and certain drugs to combat serious illness are not universally available.
     • Many accused people do not have the same access to the best lawyers as those who can afford to hire anyone they choose.
     • Some state schools are very good, others are poor - so all children do not receive a uniformly good education.

3. Equality of opportunity

   • Some people believe society should aim for equality of opportunity
     • (i) entitlement to exercise human and legal rights, (ii) receive and education, (iii) receive healthcare, (iv) have a job, (v) own a house
     • (vi) get married, (vii) become a parent, (viii) drive a car, (ix) go where we want, (x) vote in elections
     • (xi) serve on a jury,. The Education Act 1944, which gave all pupils access to grammar school education based on ability and regardless of their parents' income, was seen as a step towards equality of opportunity and the growth of meritocracy - an aim which comprehensive schools and sixth form colleges endeavour to continue
       • Rich people have more opportunities than poorer people. Since 1945 living standards have improved and many benefits have been introduced.

4. Government actions to limit discrimination

   • t is impossible to know whether a person has been denied a job for reasons of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or race rather than merit - we need to avoid stereotyping people according to arbitrarily chosen characteristics and judge them fairly on their merits.
   • By establishing clear guidelines and good practice, the past 30 years have seen considerable progress in making society more equal. Legislation to increase equal opportunities and the establishment of public bodies charged to promote good practice includes:
     • Disability Discrimination Act 1995 established the Disability Rights Commission to support those who complained of discrimination in terms of, for example, access to shops or public buildings or employment;
     • Equal Pay Act 1970, guaranteeing equal pay for equal work - the position has improved since the Act was passed, though even in 2003 women still receive barely 80% of what men are paid for doing identical work.
     • Minimum Wage Act 1998 sets a floor on wage levels, though this does not always benefit casual workers exploited by gangmasters who often employ illegal immigrants and exploit them or deny them rights such as health and safety at work.
     • Race Relations Act 1975 established the Commission for Racial Equality which supports those seeking good practice or who feel their rights have not been fully met. Unemployment is often still much higher amngblack people than whites even when they share the same qualifications.
     • Sex Discrimination Act 195 establishes guidelines for fair employment practices and gives those who are treated unfairly on grounds of gender or sexual orientation the support of the Equal Opportunities Commission.
     • From October 2007 the anti-discrimination bodies dealing with equal opportunities, race relations and disability rights were replaced by a Commission for Equality and Human Rights with a primary goal of ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society without discrimination..