Valuing people as individuals is important in promoting equality of opportunities. Inclusion is ensuring that people have access to available services and activities as well as a full range of services and facilities available Discrimination is judging people because of gender, social class, age, disability, religion, sexuality, race, ethnicity, language, nationality or other personal characteristics and discriminating against then because of these differentness, treating them different, different treatment of care. 1.2 The potential effects of discrimination can be different for different people. The effects can be physical, emotional or a combination of both such as Disempowerment, Low self-esteem and self-identity and even negative behaviours including aggression and criminality., poor appetite, a change in eating habits, sleeplessness, loss/gain of weight, lack of personal hygiene and lack of energy. the emotional effects may be low self esteem, lack of confidence, feeling unwanted, insecurity, becoming withdrawn, depression/stress, anxiety, sudden change in behaviour.
Humans naturally form social groups and identities. These groups may have common conscious or unconscious values or morals. With this individuals are exposed and may become vulnerable to influencing factors encouraging them to conform or adopt the group values and beliefs. In the helping profession, in order for the counsellor to support the client effectively the counsellor must show and feel acceptance regardless of the issue; even if it contradicts or disagrees with their morals and values. On occasion there are self-awareness unexplored problem areas that the counsellor encounters with a client.
I need to work in a person centred way and take into account the service users likes and dislikes, beliefs and any personal history they have , I can deliver the best care possible to them. At the same time I need to offer assistance they may require within my role of a support worker. Diversity should be valued as no individual is the same as any other. People don’t always accept what is different and diversity can lead a society to grow or to lead to violence and hatred. Sometimes it can be that people are a little afraid of an individual who is different, I have found in my work role that some people can be very hesitant to talk to the people I support.
Indirect discrimination on the other hand occurs where the effect of certain requirements, conditions or practices imposed by an employer or education provider has an adverse impact disproportionately on one group or other unless they have a reason to justify it. Other forms of discrimination can come in the form of harassment; offensive or intimidating behavior - sexist language or racial abuse, or Victimisation; where somebody is treated badly because they tried to make or made a complaint about discrimination (EHRC, 2010). What is the basis of discrimination? As mentioned above, discrimination can be based on the grounds of individual’s culture, disability, age, gender, sexuality, cognitive ability, family status and social class. Culture: treating individual differently or unfairly because of their social background, religion and culture can be classified as discrimination.
Unit 2 P5 Developing an anti-discriminatory approach to care practice. The best way to promote equal opportunities is through non-discriminatory practices. This means developing ways of working that: “recognise the needs of people from diverse backgrounds including those who come from minority religious and culture groups, actively challenge the unfair discrimination that people experience and counteract the effects that unfair discrimination has already had on people” Responding to unfair discrimination in care Question their own assumptions and be prepared to change their ideas and views about people, viewing people's physical, social and culture differences as a positive and interesting feature of care work rather than something that is problematic, becoming familiar with polices and procedures of the care organisations in which they work in, not judging people, adopt the view that people are all different but equal value, this is regardless of their mental, cultural and physical characteristics, being self ware and within reason and self-critical and continue developing their self and reflecting on their ideas on quality. Personal beliefs and value systems Some care practitioners feel that they should not impose their own personal beliefs and value systems, even if they believe in equality, on service users and work colleagues. Many care practitioners may also think that prejudice and unfair discrimination is not their responsibility to deal with.
1.2 The potential effects of discrimination can be physical, emotional or a combination of both. Other possible effects could include: Feeling isolated, Low self esteem, depression, fear of rejection, stress and feeling withdrawn from society These effects not only affect the individual but they can also affect that individuals family and friends too. The individual’s family can become isolated from society because they are trying to protect their loved one and will often experience verbal abuse for having a family member that is some people see as ‘different’. 1.3 Inclusive practice promotes an individual’s right to access equal opportunities. Promoting an individual’s rights in this way supports diversity.
Discrimination can also happen in-directly for example; a trip is planned and a service user needs specialist equipment to participate, the trip planned can not provide the equipment needed. This results in the service user being unable to go. This service user has been discriminated against. In supporting a persons equality we are treating that person as our equal, understanding that they have the right to be treated fairly and with equal opportunities to education, housing, employment and health and social care. This can help the person to feel valued and not set apart from others, this in turn will reduce any discrimination.
Prejudice is a feeling of dislike towards a person or a group of people based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and anything else that might set a person or group of people out as being different. Discrimination is the denial of opportunities and equal rights to people and groups of people because of prejudice. Stereotypes are a generalization of a group of people, usually an inaccurate generalization. (Schaefer, 2013) Prejudice and stereotyping are not actions. Discrimination is different because it is an action against a person or a group of people.
Inclusion is the practice of eliminating discrimination and removing the barriers that may be hindering people, helping them access equal opportunities and fair treatment. In a care setting, it means celebrating each service user's individuality and making sure they have access to an equal quality of care. 1.2 Describe the potential effects of discrimination The potential effects of discrimination can be different for different people. Some people may experience physical effects, whilst some experience emotional effects, or a combination of both. Physical
The implications on the individual that can develop from this prejudice are feelings of low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence as well as a lack of employment opportunities. This can then create implications on the wider society such as welfare state costs, higher crime rates and even costs to healthcare. The concept of discrimination ‘means simply treating unfairly’ (Marshall, G 1998). Discrimination is treating an individual or group of people unfairly on the grounds of their protected characteristic e.g. age, sex, race etc.