“What is discrimination?”

1. “What is discrimination?” Learning Objective: -To be able to understand the different definitions of discrimination. -To be aware of different targets of discrimination and contexts in which it can occur. -To be able to understand how to create a definition of discrimination.

2. What is ‘discrimination’?

3. What makes something ‘discrimination’? • Think about… • What counts as discrimination? • Who can be discriminated against? • Where might discrimination happen? • Think about… • Think of local or media examples of acts of discrimination that you’ve heard of.

4. 'Age discrimination is rife within the BBC, but they get away with it' • The BBC accused of "ageism" from its own after radio staff claim they have been told to keep old people off the air. • The BBC is turning its back on older, loyal listeners who make up the backbone of the local radio audience… in the search for a younger audience in the face of flagging ratings. • [A producer] said the BBC was dumping older, • popular, Broadcasters. "It is not just the listeners who are being discriminated against, it is the presenters."

5. Mothers 'face job discrimination' • Women face ongoing discrimination in the workplace, a major review of inequality in the UK suggests. • A partnered mother with a child aged under 11 is 45% less likely to be in work than a partnered man, the Equalities Review says.

6. Gay Couple Win B&B Discrimination Case The Christian owners of a seaside guesthouse acted unlawfully by refusing to let a gay couple share a double bed, a judge has ruled in a landmark case. “Regardless of each person's religious beliefs, no-one is above the law." "Religious freedom shouldn't be used as a cloak for prejudice."

7. Employers discriminate against Muslims, study finds • Muslims face "massive discrimination" when applying for jobs, according to the first scientifically validated study of anti-Muslim bias among employers in France. • Young Muslims are at even higher risk of being unemployed. Muslims aged between 16 and 24 have the highest jobless rates of any group, with a jobless rate of 28 per cent compared with 11 per cent, according to the Office of National Statistics.

8. Main activity 2: Create a definition of discrimination • Can you create your own definition of discrimination? • Create posters displaying your definition to use around the school. • Think about… • Is it better to be less specific, or more detailed? • Is it better to be detailed or short & easy to understand? • Consider the environment that your definitions will be read in, who will see them? • Does this change the emphasis of your definition?

9. Plenary/feedback • What are some definitions of discrimination? • Can you give an example of discrimination? • Can you describe discrimination in one sentence? • In what way are some definitions more useful than others? • Learning Objective: • -To be able to understand the different definitions of discrimination. • -To be aware of different targets of discrimination and contexts in which it can occur. • -To be able to understand how different definitions of discrimination might be useful/un-useful in helping people understand and identify what racism is. You can find out more about tackling racism in schools, by visiting www.tackling-racism.co.uk