Health and social care essay. Legislation and Discrimination.

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Unit 2 : Assignment 1

Social Factors

  • Ethnicity defines individuals and groups who have shared characteristics such as language, religion, dress, and origin. Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom include English, Welsh, Scottish, Indian, Irish, Pakistani and Chinese. Discrimination or stereotyping occurs when people consider the ethnic characteristics of other people as being inferior to their own. Ethnicity is a factor that society deals with unequally, but ethnicity does promote equality in society, because it generally shows that everyone will have different skin tones and features, but when it comes down to it, we are all equal. Legalisations set up such as The Race Relations Act 1967, is set up to promote equality through ethnicity, this act of parliament has made it unlawful to discriminate because of someone’s race in employment, housing or services.

  • We are all born with a Gender, classified as birth as either a male or female. There are assumptions made about a person’s gender that can lead to discrimination taking place. It was assumed that men were more important than women and they should have more rights than women.  Men and women are not the same; they may be equal on the other hand. They should both be treated by their biological differences; society should assume that women and men are capable of the same things. Gender does generally promote equality, women are now running for president, and have 100% support. The Equal Pay Act 1970 has made it compulsory that employers do not discriminate between men and women in terms of their pay and working conditions.

  • Age is an important factor in today’s society; you cannot drive until a certain age or vote or get married etc. There’s group that we are identified into by our age (toddlers, teenagers, adultolescence, old people) with some of these groups seen as better than others as or more able than others, as well as other groups can be discriminated against e.g. old people. Age promotes equality in society and the law maintains your rights not to be disadvantaged or treated badly at work because of your age. The Equal Act 2010 was put into law to oppose to discrimination against age.

  • Many people see Sexuality as a very important part of their identity and who they are. A sense of a person’s sexual and emotional attraction to others, e.g. heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual. Sexuality generally does promote equality, because it does show it doesnt matter what your values/norms are, everyone is equal, though there is still acts in which homosexuals are discrminated against, but theres laws that act against this.

  • There are many different Faiths in the world and many people grow up following a particular faith. It gives people spiritual beliefs and it influences their cultural traditions and what they celebrate e.g., Christians celebrate Christmas, and Jewish celebrate Passover. Discrimination occurs when people assume that their beliefs and practices based on their faith are the right ones and that everyone should follow and believe in what they do. Faith promotes equality, everyone has their own beliefs/religions, and there are plenty of holy places set up around the world to promote this.
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Political Factors

  • The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 has made it compulsory not to discriminate between men and women within the areas of employment, access to goods and facilities. The act is there to provide equal opportunities for both men and women to get jobs and also equal promotions within their jobs. 

  • The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was designed to prevent discrimination taking place because of a person’s disability, which could be in employment, access to services and transport and housing. People with a disability must not be treated less ...

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