1.2 Explain what is meant by discrimination and the potential effects on individuals and others

This guide will help you answer 1.2 Explain what is meant by discrimination and the potential effects on individuals and others.

Discrimination happens when someone is treated unfairly or unequally because of a certain characteristic. These characteristics are often linked to the person’s identity or circumstances, such as age, gender, race, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. Discrimination is against the law in the UK under the Equality Act 2010.

Discrimination not only causes harm to the person directly affected but can also have a negative impact on others, like family members, colleagues, or the wider society. In this guide, we will look at what discrimination means and the effects it can have.

What Is Meant by Discrimination?

Discrimination means someone is treated unfairly or put at a disadvantage compared to others because of a particular reason that is protected by law. These reasons are called “protected characteristics,” and they include:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage or civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

The law protects people with these characteristics to ensure everyone is treated fairly and equally. Discrimination can come in different forms, which include direct, indirect, harassment, and victimisation.

Forms of Discrimination

Direct Discrimination
Direct discrimination is when someone is treated less favourably than others because of a protected characteristic. For example, not offering a job to someone simply because they are older is considered direct age discrimination.

Indirect Discrimination
Indirect discrimination happens when a policy, rule, or way of working applies to everyone but disadvantages a specific group. For instance, if a care organisation requires all staff to work on Sundays, it could disadvantage employees whose religion observes Sunday as a holy day.

Harassment
Harassment involves unwanted behaviour related to a protected characteristic that makes someone feel offended, humiliated, or intimidated. An example could be making offensive jokes about someone’s disability in a workplace.

Victimisation
Victimisation occurs when someone is treated unfairly because they complained about discrimination or supported someone else in making a complaint. For instance, if an employee is denied a promotion after filing a grievance about racial discrimination, this is victimisation.

How Discrimination Can Affect Individuals

Experiencing discrimination can leave individuals feeling a range of effects. These can be emotional, physical, or even social.

Emotional Effects

Individuals who face discrimination often report feelings of stress, anxiety, and fear. They may feel worthless, excluded, or isolated when treated unfairly. Over time, these feelings can harm their self-esteem and confidence. For example, if a care worker is constantly ridiculed for their race, they may feel unmotivated or reluctant to engage with their colleagues.

Repeated discrimination can also lead to mental health conditions like depression. The emotional toll can be severe, especially when the discrimination is persistent.

Physical Effects

Stress caused by discrimination can also impact a person’s physical health. Long-term stress may lead to conditions like high blood pressure, sleep problems, or even weakened immunity. In some cases, individuals may develop physical symptoms without an obvious medical cause, linked to the emotional distress they are experiencing.

For example, someone who has been subjected to ongoing sexual harassment in the workplace might experience headaches, sleeplessness, or eating disorders as a result of feeling unsafe or disrespected.

Behavioural Changes

Discrimination can also change how someone behaves. For instance, a person affected by discrimination might withdraw from social situations, avoid certain places, or become overly cautious. Young people experiencing bullying in care settings might stop participating in group activities or try to keep to themselves.

In extreme cases, people may develop unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse, gambling, or self-harm, as a way to deal with the ongoing emotional pain.

Social Isolation

Being excluded or ridiculed based on a protected characteristic may result in someone distancing themselves from others. They might feel like they no longer belong in their community or workplace. This social isolation can further harm their well-being and lead to more feelings of loneliness or sadness.

Potential Effects on Others

Discrimination doesn’t just impact the person directly affected. It can also affect their family, co-workers, or others in their community.

Family and Loved Ones

When an individual experiences discrimination, it can have a ripple effect on their family or loved ones. For example, a parent facing workplace discrimination may struggle to provide for their family financially, causing stress within the household. Children might notice their parents’ stress or frustration and also feel the impact.

Family members may also feel helpless because they cannot “fix” the situation. This can sometimes lead to tension or additional emotional strain on relationships.

Colleagues and Peers

For colleagues or peers who witness discrimination, the impact can also be distressing. If people see unfair behaviour in their team or workplace but feel unable to speak out, they may fear becoming victims themselves. This can create a toxic environment where morale and teamwork suffer.

In care settings, if clients or service users witness discriminatory attitudes, they may lose trust in their care workers. For example, if a care worker is treated unfairly because of their disability, it could leave service users feeling worried about their own treatment or questioning the professionalism of the caregiving organisation.

Community and Society

On a larger scale, discrimination can negatively affect communities and wider society. Discrimination perpetuates inequality and marginalises certain groups, leaving them unable to access the same opportunities as others.

For example, unequal access to education, housing, or employment opportunities creates cycles of poverty and disadvantage within marginalised communities. This can lead to social division, resentment between groups, and often reinforces harmful stereotypes.

Addressing Discrimination

Everyone benefits when discrimination is challenged and addressed. In care settings, tackling discrimination helps create an inclusive environment where clients and staff feel respected and valued. It can boost confidence and encourage people to thrive in their roles or daily lives.

Promoting equality and diversity ensures better relationships between individuals and groups, benefiting both the workplace and the community. In care work, this improves the quality of care provided and ensures compliance with legal and ethical responsibilities.

Summary of Actions to Prevent Discrimination

Preventing discrimination requires awareness and proactive measures. Here are some practical steps care workers and others can take:

• Understand the Law: Know what the Equality Act 2010 says and apply it in your daily work. Treat everyone equally without favour or prejudice.
• Foster Respect: Encourage open conversations that promote respect and celebrate differences. View diversity as a strength.
• Challenge Discrimination: Speak up if you witness discriminatory behaviour. Report concerns through your workplace’s procedures.
• Reflect on Your Actions: Be mindful of your attitudes and actions. Avoid unconscious bias, which means unknowingly favouring or disadvantaging certain groups.

Discrimination can harm individuals and others around them—emotionally, physically, and socially. As a care worker, your role involves safeguarding dignity and rights for everyone you support. Standing against discrimination helps protect those in your care and promotes equality for all.