Gender, Ethnicity and Discrimination

Abstract

A very potent issue in politics is formed by the very large number of people who feel unfairly disadvantaged and discriminated against simply because of who or what they are, rather than for what they do or have achieved. Of course the greatest sufferers from this are women, who continue in many respects to be treated as second-class citizens even though they represent more than 50 per cent of the population. On the other hand the most blatant forms of discrimination linked with prejudice are found in the treatment of non-white British citizens, in actions that range from unfair treatment under the law to outright racism. There are other sub-groups of society who also suffer from disadvantages, ranging from legal inequalities to job discrimination. Such groups include most disabled people, homosexual gay and lesbian groups and the old in general.