What is Equality?
The term ‘equality’ does not simply mean treating everyone the same. It means understanding and tackling the different barriers to equal opportunities for different groups of people.
While many of the barriers can be different however, members of equality groups share similar experiences of discrimination and exclusion from jobs, services, and other aspects of life in the Western Isles.
Discrimination can happen in a range of different ways, for example:
- a hostile or prejudiced response due to being a member of an equality group;
- physical barriers to accessing services; and
- lack of information or services in a suitable language or format.
Equality is not about benefiting some people at the expense of others – equality needs to benefit everyone.