Religion A religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence. Many religions have narratives, symbols, and sacred histories that aim to explain the meaning of life, the origin of life, or the Universe. From their beliefs about the cosmos and human nature, people may derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle.
nition of what constitutes adherence or membership, holy places, and scriptures. The practice of a religion may include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration (of a deity, gods, or goddesses), sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trances, initiations, funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public service, or other aspects of human culture. Religions may also contain mythology. Many religions may have organized be- There are numerous definitions of religion haviors, clergy, a and only a few are stated here. The typid e f i - cal dictionary definition of religion refers to a “belief in, or the worship of, a god or gods” or the “service and worship of God or the supernatural”.[22] However, writers and scholars have expanded upon the “belief in god” definitions as insufficient to capture the diversity of religious thought and experience.
Victimisation happens when you are treated worse than someone else at work because you’ve complained, or taken legal action, about religious discrimination. It is also victimisation if you are treated unfairly because you’ve supported someone else taking action, for example, if you act as a witness in someone else’s discrimination case. Discrimination can take the form of victimisation. This is where you’re treated worse than someone else because you’ve complained or taken legal action about religious discrimination. It is also victimisation if you’re treated unfairly because you’ve supported someone else taking action, for example, if you act as a witness in someone else’s discrimination case. It’s a criminal offence to attack you because of your religion or belief, or because of your lack of religion. This includes both physical and verbal abuse. Someone is also committing a criminal offence if they stir up hatred of a particular religious group. For example, if they publish or distribute racist information or information designed to stir up religious hatred.
It is against the law for someone to bully you at work because of your religion or belief. This is known as harassment. The person bullying you may be your employer or it may be a colleague. Someone is bullying you if you find their behaviour towards you offensive, frightening, degrading, humiliating or in any way distressing. It may be intentional or unintentional. It’s against the law to refuse to provide training opportunities to you because of your religion or belief, or to provide them in a way which puts you at a disadvantage to other people because of your religion or belief.
Racism Racism consists of several different and often related ideologies centered around the concept of race. Modern variants are often based in social perceptions of biological differences between peoples. These can take the form of social actions, practices or beliefs, or political systems that consider different races to be ranked as inherently superior or inferior to each other, based on presumed shared inheritable traits, abilities, or qualities. It may also hold that members of different races should be treated differently. Among the questions about how to define racism are the question of whether to include forms of discrimination that are unintentional, such as making assumptions about preferences or abilities of others based on racial stereotypes, whether to include symbolic or institutionalized forms of discrimination such as the circulation of ethnic stereotypes through the media,
and whether to include the sociopolitical dynamics of social stratification that sometimes have a racial component. While race and ethnicity are considered to be separate phenomena in contemporary social science, the two terms have a long history of equivalence in popular usage and older social science literature. Racism and racial discrimination are often used to describe discrimination on an ethnic or cultural basis, independent of whether these differences are described as racial. According to the United Nations convention, there is no distinction between the terms racial discrimination and ethnic discrimination, and superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere. Some definitions of racism also include discriminatory behaviors and beliefs based on cultural, national, ethnic, caste, or religious stereotypes.
What is Racism? Definitions of racism The belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others. Offensive or aggressive behaviour to members of another race stemming from such a belief. A policy or system of government based on it. The Macquarie Concise Dictionary 1996 Racism may be direct or indirect, individual or institutional: Direct racial discrimination happens when someone is treated less fairly than someone else in a similar situation, because of their race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin. For example, if a school will not hire a staff member just because of his or her race or ethnicity. Indirect racial discrimination can hap-
pen when a policy or rule treats everyone in the same way, but has an unfair effect on more people of a particular race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin than others. For example, a rule that says that students may not wear anything on their heads could result in discrimination against students whose religions require headwear. Racist behaviour may include: Physical assault and harassment Verbal abuse, threats, derogatory language, ridicule, stereotyped comments Racist propaganda eg symbols, signs, graffiti Incitement of others to behave in a racist manner Refusal to cooperate with other people because of their colour, ethnicity, religion or language Institutional racism which often unintentionally disadvantages or marginalises less dominate ethnic and cultural groups eg biased policies, rules or curriculum.
Discrimination can be direct, indirect, deliberate or accidental. If you feel you are being discriminated against at work because of your sex, because you are married or in a civil partnership, or because of your gender reassignment, it is unlawful. Equal opportunity laws aim to create a ‘level playing field’ so that people are employed, paid, trained and promoted only because of their skills, abilities and how they do their job. Sex discrimination laws cover almost all workers (men and women) and all types of organisations in the UK. It covers: recruitment employment terms and conditions pay and benefits status training
promotion and transfer opportunities redundancy dismissal There are four types of discrimination: direct discrimination - treating you differently because of your sex, because you are married or because of your gender reassignment indirect discrimination - putting you at a disadvantage because of certain working practices or rules harassment - behaving in an offensive manner, or encouraging or allowing other people to do so victimisation - treating you unfairly for making a complaint about discrimination
Sexism The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which protected men and women from discrimination on the grounds of sex or marital status. The Act concerned employment, training, education, harassment, the provision of goods and services, and the disposal of premises. The Gender Recognition Act 2004 and The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Amendment) Regulations 2008 amended parts of this Act to apply to transsexual people. Other amendments were introduced by the Sex Discrimination Act 1986, the Employment Act 1989, the Equality Act 2006, and other legislation such as rulings by the European Court of Justice.
The Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 established the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) whose main duties were to work towards the elimination of discrimination, to promote equality of opportunity between sexes and to keep under review the workings of the Sex Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act 1970. The EOC helped individuals bring cases to Employment Tribunals and to the courts. The EOC is now subsumed into the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Eldery Elderly people experience a type of discrimination that’s prevalent, and it has nothing to do with the color of their skin, their religion or socio-economic status. “What do you expect at your age?” “You’re not getting any younger!” Do these statements sound familiar?” The “old geezer” stereotype is an unjust and prejudicial generalization that assumes all older adults naturally become weak, sick and forgetful. This is what constitutes “ageism”. Ageist attitudes are not only hurtful, they are harmful. It’s not just younger people – family members, friends, or complete strangers – who are doling out the ageist remarks. Some health care professionals have the same attitude. Dr. Robert Stall, a practicing
geriatrician for over 20 years in Buffalo, New York, sees it first-hand often. “And I can tell you from 23 years as a geriatrician, when an older person visits a doctor with valid health concerns such as loss of bladder control, decreased mobility or memory impairments – and is met with a ‘what do you expect’ attitude from a doctor or nurse – the mindset rubs off on the patient. He or she leaves the doctor’s office thinking, ‘What do I expect? I’m not getting any younger. My health problems are just part of getting old.’ “
Ageism is discrimination or unfair treatment based on a person’s age. It can impact on someone’s confidence, job prospects, financial situation and quality of life. It can also include the way that older people are represented in the media, which can have a wider impact on the public’s attitudes. It’s important that ageism, often called age discrimination, is addressed to ensure that nobody loses out because of their age. Perhaps you have been in a situation where you have been discriminated against due to your age. You may be fully aware that you have been subject to ageism, but sometimes it’s not so obvious. Although ageism is often seen as a workplace issue, you may face it when you’re out shopping, at the doctor’s surgery, or even when ordering products and services over the phone. Losing a job because of their age. Being refused interest-free credit, a new credit card, car insurance or trav-
Ageism
el insurance because of their age. Receiving a lower quality of service in a shop or restaurant because of the organisation’s attitude to older people. Not being eligible for benefits such as Disability Living Allowance due to age limits. Being refused a referral from a doctor to a consultant because you are ‘too old’. Being refused membership to a club or trade association because of your age. All of these situations are examples of ageism. You are protected against some of these situations by law, but not all of them. Under the Equality Act, you are protected from ageism in employment, training and education, and also in membership of clubs and associations. Unfortunately, there is no protection in some areas, including housing, as yet. From 1 October 2012, you will have increased protection when you are receiving products and services, to ensure you aren’t treated unfairly.