2.1 Explain how individuals experience discrimination

Discrimination occurs when individuals are treated unjustly or unequally due to characteristics associated with their identity. Such characteristics may be age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or mental health. Discrimination may have serious consequences, including physical, emotional, and social health of a person. It can occur in daily life, at work, in schools, or in health and social care. It is essential to understand the experience of discrimination in others to create inclusive spaces and provide everyone with equal treatment and care.

Direct Discrimination

Direct discrimination happens when an individual is treated unfavourably due to a protected characteristic. As an illustration, a person may be refused employment due to his or her ethnicity, or a mentally ill person may be excluded from social gatherings. Direct discrimination is typically clear and may take the form of an immediate negative act, like the denial of services, verbal abuse, or the unfairly ignored opportunity.

Direct discrimination may have severe consequences. Individuals can be lonely, demeaned, or underestimated. The cumulative effect of repeated experiences may undermine self-esteem, increase stress, and damage mental and physical health.

Indirect Discrimination

Indirect discrimination occurs when a policy, rule or practice that is applicable to all people turns out to be disadvantageous to a certain group. An example is a workplace where everyone is expected to work long hours without any flexibility, which can be unfavourable to individuals with disabilities or parents who have to take care of their children. Similarly, education systems that are based on written exams may discriminate against students with learning disabilities.

Indirect discrimination is not as evident as direct discrimination, but it can be equally harmful. It may restrict the opportunities of certain groups, support inequality, and make people feel excluded or unfairly treated.

Harassment and Victimisation

Harassment or victimisation can also be a manifestation of discrimination. Harassment is undesirable conduct associated with a characteristic that is protected and which disrespects the dignity of a person or causes an intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive atmosphere. As an illustration, derogatory jokes about a person, their religion, gender, or mental-health status are harassment.

Victimisation happens when a person is treated unjustly because he or she has complained about discrimination or defended another victim. An example is when an employee is ignored or overlooked during a promotion or even when negative remarks are made against him or her after reporting unfair treatment. Harassment and victimisation can make individuals feel unsafe or unsupported over an extended period of time.

Social and Structural Discrimination

There is also discrimination at the social or structural level. Structural discrimination is a set of policies, procedures, or cultural practices that are unfavourable to some groups. There can be unequal access to healthcare among ethnic minorities, wage disparities that impact women, and restricted educational access among people with disabilities.

Structural discrimination may have long-term effects, including economic inequality, less career advancement, and access to necessary services. It affects numerous spheres of an individual's life and may lead to disadvantageous cycles.

Impact on Individuals

Direct, indirect, or structural discrimination has a significant impact on people in some ways:

Emotional Effect: The most frequent consequences are anxiety, stress, depression, and low self-esteem.

Social Impact: Individuals can become isolated, excluded or marginalised in social and work environments.

Practical Impact: Discrimination may limit access to education, employment, healthcare, and social opportunities.

Such experiences may damage the short-term and long-term life outcomes.

Legal Protections

The Equality Act 2010 is one of the laws in the UK that safeguards individuals against discrimination, harassment, and victimisation based on protected characteristics. Being aware of these rights can assist individuals to question unfair treatment and organisations to develop inclusive practices.

Conclusion

Discrimination against people takes various forms, such as direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and structural or social inequality. These experiences have profound emotional, social, and practical impacts on life. To create equitable, supportive, and inclusive workplaces where all people are treated with dignity and respect, health and social care professionals, educators, and employers need to learn how discrimination is experienced.

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