Gender equality

This topic reveals what gender equality means and how gender roles are projected to our social reality

Gender discrimination

Gender discrimination means someone´s disadvantage on the basis of the Gender.

It's not just only discrimination based on sex - if someone is discriminated against because they are a man or a woman. As is clear from the definition of Gender, Gender discrimination may also apply to family situation – to parenthood (men, too - fathers may be exposed to the same discrimination as mothers, or even stronger), to marriage or single life, etc. The role of Gender discrimination may be in a situation on the labour market and a person (or group of people) is discriminated against at work for the reason that they perform a "Gender inadequate" profession.

As with other types of discrimination, here we also distinguish between direct and indirect discrimination.

Direct Gender discrimination is a treatment or procedure, in which the individual is treated differently (inadequately or negatively) because of his/her Gender (man, woman, mother, father ...).

An example might be a situation in which only young women are hired for a receptionist’s position (this is a discrimination based on sex, Gender discrimination, but also discrimination based on age).

Indirect Gender discrimination is a practice or treatment in which the individuals seem to be treated based on a united (as though neutral) criterion, but the criterion is set in such a way that from the start it disadvantages or excludes individuals or groups on the basis of sex or Gender, and due to the circumstances in which the measure is formulated, it is not relevant.

Example:

For the position of receptionist, there is a requirement to fulfil the BMI value of 20 to 22 points. It is likely that this criterion will be more difficult to fulfil for older women and men. Additionally, BMI is not a relevant requirement for the performance of that profession in any way. We can assume that the employer - just as in the previous example, "discretely" wants to prioritize young slim women - as a way to represent the company. An important role is played by the Gender-stereotyped concept of beauty myth, which reduces women to aesthetic and sexual objects. This creates not only discrimination against older women and men, but also disparaging attitudes to women. Clearly, it is not just discrimination based on sex and age but Gender discrimination, as well.

Instruction to discrimination or abetment to discrimination is also considered discrimination, as well as sexual harassment/harassment and unauthorized sanction, which are also considered Gender discrimination.

More information about discrimination:Annex 6