As pundits and politicians across the UK try to digest and interpret the confidence and supply deal with between the Conservatives and the DUP, Dr. Elaine Dewhurst considers the implications of the deal for equality legislation and lays out a way forwards for equality and human rights in the UK. There is a distinct […]
Overcoming ethnic prejudice: how a positive trend could be threatened
An important indicator of a breakdown of barriers between different ethnic groups is accepting someone of a different ethnic background marrying into the family. Much research into attitudes looks at the views of the majority ethnic group separately to those of the minorities. In a break from this tradition, researchers from the University of Manchester […]
Why Everyday Austerity is Gendered
On the eve of both the Spring Budget and International Women’s Day, Dr Sarah Marie Hall examines the gendered nature of austerity and argues for a new economic system that addresses social inequalities and values caring work. Gaps created by a retreating welfare state are typically attended to by women in communities and families, underpinned […]
The North West: what has the EU ever done for us?
Most of the hype and headlines on the UK’s membership of the EU centres around national impact, generated largely by those based in our traditional power centre of London and the South East. But the EU has come through for the regions where the Government has not, says Paul Richardson. What has the EU ever […]
Racial disadvantage: are some Government policies contributing?
When Sadiq Khan was sworn in as the new London mayor last month, the Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, said that the first Muslim mayor of any capital city in the EU could “pave the way for a ‘prime minister of colour’”. James Rhodes says this appointment is a great leap in the right direction […]
The battle over skirt-only uniform codes – does it matter who wears the trousers?
Nowadays everywhere you look you will see women and girls wearing trousers: at work, at play, at formal and informal occasions. But many schools still impose skirt-only uniform codes for girls which Claire Hale says is gender discrimination and out of step with the modern world. The Queen has been seen in public wearing trousers. […]
Hollywood So White
Following the recent media storm around an all-white Oscar nomination list, it’s the wider industry inequality that needs to be addressed. Without ‘root and branch’ change, diversifying the Oscars alone could even make things worse, argues Dr Eithne Quinn. Behind the recent #OscarsSoWhite controversy over the all-white slate of actors nominated for this year’s Oscars […]
The limits to equal pay audits
Earlier this month David Cameron set out plans to force large firms to reveal data on the gender pay among their staff. Here Jill Rubery explores the possibilities and pitfalls of the policy. The rather surprising conversion of the Cameron government to the need for large organisations to conduct and publish equal pay audits has […]
Employment targets for ethnic minorities will not reduce racial inequalities
Omar Khan, Director of the Runnymede Trust, assesses the prospects for ethnic minorities under the new Conservative Government. The Prime Minister David Cameron’s commitments during the 2015 campaign will continue rather than reduce racial inequalities in the labour market. His underwhelming targets suggest we need better evidence, proper legislative scrutiny and public debate to make democracy […]
Care home culture is forcing older people back into the closet
Encouraging an LGBT-friendly, or better still, an LGBT-inclusive environment needs to be higher on the agenda in care homes, argue Dr Paul Simpson and Dr Kathryn Almack. If homes were to function more along these lines, they could work more like communities than simply places to live. What if you had lived a life as […]