Equality North East » Resources

Glossary

This section of the website is used to catalogue definitions of terms used throughout this website. To select a word, choose the initial letter of the word below.

Glossary Terms beginning with the letter D :

Detriment
To be subjected to a detriment is to be put under a disadvantage. In terms of harassment, the harassment itself can be a detriment, even if it did not lead to further detriment such as a transfer or dismissal.
Direct discrimination
Direct Discrimination means treating a person less favourably on grounds of their colour, race nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender or marital status or for reasons relating to a person's disability.
Disability
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, a disability is "a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect upon a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995) was passed to introduce new measures aimed at ending the discrimination many disabled people face. It protects disabled people in the areas of employment, the provision of goods, facilities and services and the selling, letting and managing of land or premises. In addition the DDA 1995 requires school, colleges and universities to provide information for disabled people and allows the Government to set minimum standards to assist disabled people to use public transport easily.
Disempower
To make someone feel less powerful or confident.
Diversity
Equal Opportunities is about the law, Diversity, on the other hand is about the culture within the organisation. How does it feel to be an employee? Organisations do not have to address issues of diversity - this is something which is driven internally, rather than externally through the law. However, many organisations recognise the business benefits of diversity and developing a culture in which all individuals (ie not just those covered by legislation or just ethnic minority employees) are able to make the best of their skills and talents. Diversity is often defined as something like 'A culture in which all individuals are enabled to give their best and make the best of themselves, which benefits both the individual and the organisation'. One example of where equality and diversity work together is recruitment. If jobs are not advertised, and are just given to favoured individuals, then this is likely to lead to some employees feeling resentful and frustrated. Policies and practices around recruitment fall under the equal opportunities 'banner'; but the resulting feelings of resentment are to do with the culture and feel of the organisation. Promoting practices which are unfair and lead people to feel negatively are not supporting a culture in which people can give their best. (Jill Jackson, Schneider Ross)