Promoting the concepts of equality in society
Equalities
Equalities encompasses the concepts of fairness, equal rights, and opportunities for all. Swansea is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, with a focus on addressing inequalities in areas like access to education, employment, and services.
Resources for Teaching Primary School Children
Foundation Phase
Promoting equality involves ensuring all pupils have equal access to education and feel respected, regardless of their background or protected characteristics. Under the Equality Act 2010, the nine protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Resources for Teaching Secondary School Children
Key Stage 2 & 3
Gender Equality was made part of international human rights law by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948. That milestone recognised, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” and that “everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, … birth or other status.”
A Guide for 13 Year Olds by 13 Year Olds
Why Treating Everyone at Your School with Respect Will Help You in the Future
You might be wondering, why should I care about treating people with autism, a different skin colour, religion, or sexuality the same as I would like to be treated? Well, the answer is simple: being kind and respectful to everyone, no matter what makes them different, can help you build better friendships and set you up for a happier, healthier future. Here’s how:
1. We’re All Different; That Makes Life Interesting
Imagine if everyone in life was exactly the same as you. Perhaps at first glance life would be easier – yet, life would be kind of boring too. You wouldn’t find new games to play, or funny videos you hadn’t thought about looking for, and whatever annoys you – would annoy everyone, even if you did it! There wouldn’t be all the cool variety that makes the world interesting. People with different backgrounds, cultures, skin colours, religions, and experiences bring so much to the table when building a community together. We all see the world in unique ways, and we can learn a lot from each other.
When you treat everyone with kindness and respect, you open yourself up to making new friends from different walks of life. These friendships can teach you new things and give you experiences you might never have had before. It might be a new game, or trying a new food, or seeing a cool movie.
2. Understanding Neurodiversity and Being a Good Friend
Autism is considered a condition that affects how a person interacts with others, processes information, and experiences the world around them. People with autism might communicate in ways that are a bit different from those around them, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less important or valuable. In fact, many famous people who have changed the world had autism and other neurodivergent characteristics. According to the University of Manchester, we know of the following world changing geniuses:
- Bill Gates – Dyslexia and ADHD. Founder of Microsoft – the creators of MS-DOS, Windows, and Microsoft Office.
- Emma Watson – ADHD. Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, and women’s rights activist.
- Tim Burton – Autism. Creator of famous movies and shows, including Beetlejuice the Corpse Bride, and Wednesday.
- Albert Einstein – suspected ADHD, Dyslexia, and Autism. You’re reading this thanks to his theoretical physics.
- Simone Biles – ADHD. She has won 7 medals (4 gold) in the Olympics as a gymnast.
- Emily Dickenson – suspected Autism. One of the most important American poets in literary history.
- Steve Jobs – Dyslexia. One of the founders of Apple, the iPhone and Mac are thanks to his work with his teams.
- Andy Warhol – suspected Autism & Dyslexia. A leading figure in the pop art visual arts movement.
- Cara Delevingne – ADHD. Fashion model, actress, and writer, famous for films such as Paper Towns.
3. Fighting Prejudice: Colour, Religion, and Gender
We all have things that make us different – that’s a good thing! Yet, sometimes, people make assumptions or judge others based on the colour of their skin, religion, sexual preference, or gender. This is called prejudice, and it’s unfair.
If you haven’t experienced it; imagine how it would feel if people judged you just because of how you look or what you believe. It wouldn’t feel nice, right? Treating people with kindness and seeing them for who they truly are, not just their religion or the colour of their skin, helps break down barriers. When you show respect for others, you make the world a more inclusive place, and you’ll feel proud of the person you’re becoming.
4. Respecting Different Sexualities and Genders
People might have different sexualities and gender identities, and that’s something that should be respected. Whether someone is straight, gay, bisexual, transgender, or non-binary, they are still just as deserving of respect and kindness as anyone else.
When you treat people with respect, no matter their sexuality or gender identity, you create a safe space for them to be themselves. This helps you form deeper connections with others. Also, by standing up for others and supporting them, you’re learning important values like inclusivity and acceptance. These values will help you build stronger friendships now and help you in the future when you work with people from all over the country.
5. Benefits of Building Friendships with Everyone
When you treat everyone as equals, you’re also showing yourself the value of good friendships. These friendships are built on kindness, respect, and understanding. They will help you feel happier, boost your confidence, and improve your mental health. Studies show that having positive friendships and relationships makes us feel supported, less stressed, and more content with life.
Whether it’s at school or hanging out with your friends, being the type of person who treats everyone as equals can open doors for you. It helps you become someone people want to be around, and that can make your life a lot more enjoyable.
The world can be tough sometimes. There’s a lot of unfairness, and people often focus on what makes us different instead of what makes us the same. You can help to change that, even now. By treating people with kindness, you can be part of a movement that’s making the world a better place.
