The Equality Act: Shouldn't 'geek' be a protected characteristic? (Tim Medcalf)
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The document discusses the Equality Act 2010 and proposes that geek culture could be considered a protected characteristic under anti-discrimination laws. It highlights the importance of recognizing diverse lifestyles and beliefs, including veganism, and the potential conflict between protection criteria and individual freedoms. The document emphasizes the need for software developers and designers to be mindful of equality guidelines in their work, particularly in the context of accessibility and diverse representation.
![Thank you... My apologies to... anyone offended by anything I said anyone offended that I didn't offend them [email_address] twitter: timmedcalf](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/12-timmedcalf-100521123038-phpapp02/85/The-Equality-Act-Shouldn-t-geek-be-a-protected-characteristic-Tim-Medcalf-21-320.jpg)
The Equality Act: Shouldn't 'geek' be a protected characteristic? (Tim Medcalf)
- 1. Equality Act 2010 Shouldn't geek be a protected characteristic? Tim Medcalf
- 2. New anti-discrimination law Replaces 9 separate pieces of legislation Defines “protected characteristics” Equality Act 2010
- 3. What is protected? Gender Ethnicity Disability Marriage/Civil Partnership Age Gender Reassignment Pregnancy/Maternity Sexual orientation Religion or Belief
- 4. Religion or Belief “ A belief need not include faith or worship of a god or gods, but must affect how a person lives their life or perceives the world” -Equality and Human Rights Commission Religion | Faith | Belief | Spirituality | Philosophy | Lifestyle?
- 5. “ A person who is a vegan chooses not to use or consume animal products of any kind. That person eschews the exploitation of animals for food, clothing, accessories or any other purpose and does so out of an ethical commitment to animal welfare.” - Equality and Human Rights Commission, Code of Practice Vegan
- 6. Jedi Daniel Jones (a.k.a. Master Morda Hehol) Founder, Church of Jediism Source: North Wales Chronicle
- 7. Protection of such wide and far-reaching criteria can actually conflict with a person's freedom to live the way they want. Protection/Discrimination
- 8. Religious Freedoms “ wtf. teh act iz discriminating against ma rightness 2 not employ dem wot aint cafflik. kthxbai.” (paraphrased heavily)
- 9. Fear of discriminating... Job Centre Advert: "...very reliable and hard-working." The job centre was worried that would discriminate against unreliable people.
- 10. So why not geek? “ You geek!” Copyright: Simpsons/Fox/Matt Goening
- 11. Stereotype! A lack of understanding can often be the cause of discrimination Stereotypes are often used in place of true understanding
- 12. Geek = Lifestyle So, the next time someone... won't support you for using linux scorns your use of twitter sniggers at your fine collection of regexp t-shirts Rise Up!
- 14. Equality: The serious bit... As software developers and designers, you may need to think about different protected characteristics We're all aware of W3C accessibility guidelines ...but are you ready for equality guidelines?
- 15. "Framework for Fairer Future" - Examples Suggested ways of thinking about equality: “ A police authority developing an emergency mobile phone text service, and incorporating sign language video clips on its web site to meet the needs of Deaf people.”
- 16. Procurement guidelines encourage the use of suppliers with the best equality statistics and processes Examples include male/female split and representation of diversities such as disability and ethnicity Equality Act: Public Sector
- 17. Government can control public sector easier, but they are looking at private sector too (e.g. gender pay gap reporting) Large corporates are already looking at equality as part of Corporate Social Responsibility One large retailer is already asking suppliers for proof of their equality credentials Equality Act: Private Sector
- 18. Be mindful of equality when designing software or bidding for work ...it could be a differentiator How does it affect you?
- 19. Think of the Vegan Jedi Think how different people are affected by using your website and applications Will they have to take their hood down to read all the text or hear the sounds? MeetUp? MEAT???
- 20. TofuUp!
- 21. Thank you... My apologies to... anyone offended by anything I said anyone offended that I didn't offend them [email_address] twitter: timmedcalf