Blick_UK Politics (9780198825555)_CH10

226 Chapter 10  Identity, equality, and power

TABLE 10.1  Definitions of UK social grades

Social grade Types of work A

Higher managerial, administrative and professional Intermediate managerial, administrative and professional

B

C1

Supervisory, clerical and junior managerial, administrative and professional

C2

Skilled manual workers

D

Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers

E

State pensioners, casual and lowest-grade workers, unemployed with state benefits only

Source: National Readership Survey, 2016

How did we get here? 10.1  Table 10.2 helps you to understand how the legal framework around diversity, identity, and equality has developed over time, by showcasing some of the key legislation in this area.

TABLE 10.2   Legislating for equality: a selective list Sex equality Year Legislation Outcome 1918 Representation of the People Act 1918

Provided the vote to women aged 30 and over who also met a property requirement. First permitted women to be members of the House of Commons. Ended bars on entering universities and careers, or the performing of public functions, on the basis of sex or of being married. Lowered the minimum voting age for women to 21, putting women and men on the same basis for the first time.

1918 Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 1919 Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919

1928 Representation of the People Act 1928

1970 Equal Pay Act 1970 Sought to end discrimination between men and women in payment for employment. 1975 Employment Protection Act 1975 Introduced statutory maternity leave, and protection against being dismissed for being pregnant. 1975 Sex Discrimination Act 1975 Banned discrimination on the basis of sex in providing services and goods, and in education and employment. The Act also created the Equal Opportunities Commission. 2002 Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 Altered the law to enable political parties to continue to use women-only shortlists in their selection of candidates for election. © Oxford University Press

Race equality Year Legislation

Outcome

1965 Race Relations Act 1965

Established the Race Relations Board, able to inquire into complaints about alleged illegal discrimination. Banned discriminating on the basis of race in education and providing goods and services, in employment and in education. It made incitement to racial hatred illegal, and created the Commission for Racial Equality, taking the place of the two previously existing bodies: the Community Relations Commission and the Race Relations Board.

1976 Race Relations Act 1976