Equality and discrimination

Everyone should be treated fairly. The law protects people from discrimination because of who they are.

Practise this lesson free (6 questions)

Prejudice and discrimination

Prejudice is an unfair opinion about a person or group, formed without knowing them.
Stereotyping is assuming everyone in a group is the same.
Discrimination is treating someone unfairly because of who they are. Discrimination is an action; prejudice is an attitude.

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 protects people in Great Britain from discrimination at work, in education and when using services. It lists nine protected characteristics:
Protected characteristics
Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Marriage and civil partnership
Pregnancy and maternity
Race
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation

Kinds of discrimination

Direct discrimination: treating someone worse because of a protected characteristic, such as refusing a job because of someone's race.
Indirect discrimination: a rule that applies to everyone but puts one group at an unfair disadvantage without good reason.
Harassment and victimisation (treating someone badly because they complained) are also unlawful.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission works to enforce equality law in Great Britain.
Worked example

A café refuses to serve a customer because she uses a wheelchair. Is this discrimination under the Equality Act 2010?

  1. Disability is a protected characteristic.
  2. She is being treated worse because of her disability.
  3. That is direct discrimination when using a service, which the Act makes unlawful.

Answer: Yes: direct discrimination because of disability, which is unlawful.

Key idea

Prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is unfair treatment. The Equality Act 2010 protects nine characteristics, including age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Direct and indirect discrimination are both unlawful.

Key words
Discrimination
Treating someone unfairly because of who they are, such as their race, sex or disability.
Prejudice
An unfair opinion about a person or group, formed without knowing them.
Equality Act 2010
The law in Great Britain that protects people from discrimination because of nine protected characteristics.
2010
The Equality Act protects nine characteristics from discrimination.
Protected characteristic
One of nine features, such as age, disability, race or religion or belief, that the Equality Act 2010 protects from discrimination.

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Which word means an unfair opinion about a group formed without knowing them?

    1. Prejudice
    2. Discrimination
    3. Equality
    4. Tolerance
    Show the answer

    Answer: Prejudice

    Prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is an action.

  2. A shop refuses to serve someone because of their race. What is this?

    1. Tolerance
    2. Equality
    3. Rehabilitation
    4. Discrimination
    Show the answer

    Answer: Discrimination

    Discrimination is treating someone unfairly because of who they are.

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Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 16 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.