Dimensions of Inequality in the South westBrenda Weston

Equality Development Officer (Policy)

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• “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Let each know that … the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves”. Nelson Mandela

• “Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it”. Marian Anderson

• “… I'm interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good. Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” Martin Luther King

Knowledge is power!

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Building knowledge - generating power

The Equality Measurement Framework-• EHRC - ‘How Fair is Britain?’ report• Made up of ‘ten dimensions of equality’• Based on concept of ‘human flourishing’• Empowering people through knowledge• The Big Society ... big equalities challenge

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Where the idea came from...

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• Aristotle, Amartya Sen and ‘human flourishing’• Focuses on the ‘central and valuable things in life

that people can actually do and be’ • Measures the resources that people have

identified as necessary for them to flourish• Moves the equality debate beyond just differences

in income and wealth toward a wider economic and social outcomes/factors

Ten dimensions – five pairs

Helpful to group these into five pairs:• Life (4 indicators) and Health (5 indicators);• Physical and (4 indicators) Legal Security (4 indicators);• Education and Learning (5 indicators) and Standard of Living

(5 indicators);• Productive and Valued Activities (5 indicators) and

Individual, Family and Social Life (4/5 indicators);• Identity, Expression and Self-Respect (5 indicators) and

Participation, Influence and Voice (5 indicators).

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SWTEN example

• Three discussion groups, 3 ‘dimensions’ each• + all did ‘identity, expression and self-respect’– Agreed and recorded areas of discrimination and

disadvantage experienced under each dimension; at what life stage/s; and what needed in order to address these

– Plenary to share, add to, agree conclusions– Draft report for further comment/amendment– Final report: published November 2009: ‘Transgender:

Dimensions of Equality in the South West’

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Voices from the South West

Quotes from people who have participated in Equality South West research exercises to find out about people’s experiences of discrimination in different areas of life.

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Transgender report

• “It takes so much strength and courage to keep going as a Trans person that there’s little room for anything else.”

• It was felt that there are ‘no education policies for Transgender’ or that existing policies are ineffective ... Members identified issues of isolation and non-acceptance, and a lack of understanding and support in further and higher education environments.

• The fear and reality of hate crime was of key importance to the standard of living of Transgender people, who are “Attacked for who we are”.

• “Many Trans people are still terrified of being identified as such, and with good reason. “

• From as young as two years children may know their true gender identity, but lack the confidence and vocabulary to do anything about it ... 80% of those who go on to transition knew by the time they were 8 years old that their gender identity was at odds with society’s perception.

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Women’s voices• “Skills that women do develop (as mothers) we don’t recognise ourselves –

we go back into the job market and no-one’s talking about the skills we bring … we feel grateful for a chance to work…”

• “... I’m one of the youngest councillors … and most of the council are retired males. So I do think the decision making bodies are - somewhat biased! I do think the issues that women of my age ... (are) overlooked in the main – not to put too fine a point on it!”

• “... there’s something about power here isn’t there? And it seems natural for men to be in a position to take power, and women to be in a subservient role - and somehow or other that’s what we need to get over – that women are just as competent to make those decisions... we don’t see ourselves in positions of power!”

• “The whole media (perpetuates) a sexualised projection of women (which) feeds right into how women see themselves within families and how they react within relationships.”

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Sexual Orientation• “... as a lesbian I don’t think I can be myself, due to discrimination I’ve

experienced, and attitudes I hear expressed by people who assume I’m heterosexual … I feel like I have to live this pretty boring life because I don’t want to be discriminated against and I don’t want the organisation I work for to lose credibility or acceptance.”

• “I was continually called names at work, and physically assaulted but was not backed up by the management, leading to a mental breakdown and ill-health retirement.

• “I have certainly been treated differently (less positively) once people realise my sexual identity. I do think a majority of people in our society do not believe that there are gay women...”

• “Workplaces, schools/colleges/universities etc. need to have training on equality and diversity. Not just for LGBT's but for everyone, it needs to be addressed and these are the best and most viable places to do it.”

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Black and Minority Ethnic people

• “Violence has many manifestations, and I think in fact it’s a violent assault to call somebody ... a racist name – and I feel I’ve experienced a violent assault at work in terms of ongoing relentless racism that’s made me feel incredibly unsafe”. (Professional woman)

• “I thought (the note through the door) might be the next door neighbour inviting me for coffee. It said ‘we don’t want niggers (here)’. So that was my introduction to (the village).”

• “… on the one hand (some schools) are afraid of being accused of having racial problem as if they don’t want to do anything about it, and some of the schools who actually want to do something about it don’t know what to do.”

• “Discrimination is very, very strong in this country and I don’t see a way out, and that hurts me very much. (This is) in spite of all the talk about equality...”

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What do we want - summary • Equality groups to participate in EMF exercises in

ways that they prefer (e.g. LGB&T region-wide survey based around dimensions)

• Reports collate direct experience in the South West (and local areas)

• Regional and local groups empowered by evidence• Public bodies presented with local and regional data• The public and equality groups understand equality

and diversity - and each other - better!

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Discussion

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