Equality and Diversity
What does it mean?
Equality
Equality is about treating people fairly and ensuring everyone is given a fair chance.Sometimes people think equality is about treating everyone the same. However, treating everyone in the same way can lead to indirect discrimination (see discrimination).
Equality recognises that people have many different needs that have to be met in different ways, for example a disabled person who uses a wheelchair would be excluded from taking a job in a building that had no wheelchair access.
Diversity
Diversity is about valuing difference between individuals and groups of people. Diversity welcomes these differences rather than trying to get rid of them. It is only where diversity is recognised and celebrated that there can be real equality.