How does the UK promote mutual respect and tackle discrimination?
The meaning of prejudice and discrimination, the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, how the law tackles discrimination, the role of mutual respect and tolerance, and how individuals and organisations can promote equality.
A focused answer for OCR GCSE Citizenship Studies on mutual respect and tackling discrimination: the meaning of prejudice and discrimination, the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, how the law tackles discrimination, and how individuals and organisations promote equality.
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What this dot point is asking
OCR wants you to explain what prejudice and discrimination mean, the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, how the law tackles discrimination, the role of mutual respect and tolerance, and how individuals and organisations can promote equality. This Section 3 topic links identity and diversity to the law in Section 1 and is examined through knowledge questions on prejudice, discrimination and the Equality Act and through "Explain" and "Evaluate" questions on tackling discrimination.
Prejudice and discrimination
The key distinction for the exam is that prejudice is the attitude (what someone thinks or feels) while discrimination is the action (what someone does). The law cannot easily control attitudes, but it can make discriminatory actions unlawful.
The Equality Act 2010 and protected characteristics
The Act also requires reasonable adjustments (for example for disabled people) and places duties on public bodies to promote equality. Naming the Act and one or two protected characteristics strengthens an answer.
Tackling discrimination: the law, redress and mutual respect
OCR rewards combining the legal response (the Equality Act, tribunals, the EHRC) with the social response (mutual respect, education, individual action). The strongest answers judge how effective the law is and recognise that changing attitudes matters alongside it.
Try this
Q1. Name two protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Any two of: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.
Q2. Explain the difference between prejudice and discrimination. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Prejudice is an unfair attitude or opinion about a person or group; discrimination is acting on that prejudice by treating someone unfairly, for example refusing them a job because of their race.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR J270 20192 marksState the difference between prejudice and discrimination.Show worked answer →
A short knowledge question (2 marks, 1 mark each). Reward both terms defined and contrasted.
Prejudice is an unfair opinion or attitude held about a person or group, usually without good reason (1 mark); discrimination is when that prejudice is acted upon, treating someone unfairly because of who they are, for example refusing them a job (second mark).
Top marks. Both defined and clearly contrasted: prejudice is the attitude, discrimination is the unfair action.
OCR J270 20228 marksExplain how the law helps to tackle discrimination in the UK.Show worked answer →
An extended "Explain" question (8 marks, AO1 and AO2). Reward developed points, each with a real mechanism.
Point one (the Equality Act 2010). The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against people because of protected characteristics such as race, sex, disability, religion, age and sexual orientation, in areas such as work, education and services.
Point two (enforcement and redress). People who are discriminated against can take a case to a court or employment tribunal and seek compensation or an order, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission can investigate and enforce the law.
Point three (duties on organisations). The law places duties on employers and public bodies to treat people equally and to make reasonable adjustments, for example for disabled people, helping to prevent discrimination.
Top band. Three developed points (the Act, enforcement, duties), with a judgement on how effective the law is and the role of mutual respect alongside it.
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Sources & how we know this
- OCR GCSE (9-1) Citizenship Studies J270 specification — OCR (2016)
- Equality Act 2010: guidance — UK Government (GOV.UK) (2015)