Intercultural Education in the Post-Primary School - National Council ...

DISCRIMINATION AND EQUALITYIn a literal sense, to discriminate simplymeans to recognise a difference or to makea judgement. People discriminate all thetime in deciding what food to eat, or whoto employ in a job. Where discriminationbecomes a problem is when the choice ordistinction is made unfairly.In Ireland, it is against the law todiscriminate against a person in some areason the basis of• gender• marital status• family status (having children or being acarer)• age (between the ages of 18 and 65)• disability• race• sexual orientation• religious belief• membership of the TravellerCommunity.(Equal Status Act, 2000)Two different types of discrimination arerecognised: direct discrimination andindirect discrimination. Both need to beunderstood if they are to be addressed.Direct discrimination is the most obviousand easiest to see. If someone is treateddifferently because they are a Traveller orbecause they are black (refused access to apub, called names, treated with suspicionetc.) then they have been directlydiscriminated against. In a 2001 survey ofethnic minority attitudes in Ireland, 78 percent of more than 600 respondents from avariety of ethnic minorities living all overIreland highlighted that they had been avictim of such racism, most often in publicplaces like the street or in shops or pubs.Indirect discrimination means thatapplying the same policies or opportunitiesto different people may appear fair, butmay not be fair if they give rise to differentoutcomes. For example, if the same subjectis taught to both boys and girls, but all ofthe examples are chosen to interest theboys only, this may discriminate indirectlyagainst the girl. If entry to a school isdecided in part on whether or not a childhas siblings there, this may inadvertentlydiscriminate against nomadic people.Likewise, if accommodation provision doesnot cater for people who move from placeto place, then this may discriminateindirectly against Travellers. Treatingpeople the same is not the same as treatingthem equally.As with the concept of rights, youngpeople will begin to develop anunderstanding of fairness and unfairnessand will apply these ideas to a range ofpractical situations (having a say, takingpart in decisions, getting a fair share, etc.).As they progress through post-primaryschool they will develop a deeperunderstanding of discrimination as theylearn to recognise discrimination ineveryday situations and as they gain anunderstanding of inequalities in theircommunity and in the wider world.Students can also be encouraged to takeaction in defence of those who sufferinequality and discrimination as they gaindeeper knowledge and understanding ofthe issues.58Intercultural Education in the Post-Primary School