Equality and Diversity

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Qudsia Mirza
• Assessment: a 3000-word essay (100%)

In this module we focus on the ways that law has conceptualised and sought to remedy social inequalities. While employment law is a key focus, we also cover the provision of services, immigration law, family law and policing.

The core jurisdiction is English law, including the impact of both European Union law and the European Convention on Human Rights, but we will also consider comparative background material from the United States in respect to the wider debates on law, sex and race.

Indicative syllabus

• Introduction: concepts of equality and inequality - overview of different strands of 'equality law'; overview of legal remedies and institutions
• Inequality as discrimination I: sex and gender - sex discrimination law and its limitations; theoretical and political analysis
• Inequality as discrimination II: race and ethnicity - race discrimination law and its limitations; theoretical and political analysis
• Critical use of published information (including statistics)
• Legal perceptions of sexual orientation and religious affiliation
• Critical approaches to identity and the role of the law
• Law beyond discrimination law I: policing and immigration
• Law beyond discrimination law II: debates about human rights
• Legal visions of citizenship - including age and disability law
• Law, policy and practice: what role can you play?