Gender & Equality

unfair treatment of a person or group, especially because of their race, age, or sex

The company was accused of discrimination in its hiring process.

to treat a person or group unfairly because of their race, age, or sex

Employers must not discriminate against women during recruitment.

the process of giving people, especially those with less power, more control over their own lives

The programme focuses on the empowerment of rural women.

to give someone the confidence, skills, or authority to do something

Education can empower women to make independent decisions.

fairness in the way people are treated, taking into account their different needs and circumstances

The report calls for greater equity between men and women in the workplace.

behaviour that annoys, threatens, or upsets someone, often repeated over a period of time

The new policy aims to prevent sexual harassment at work.

to repeatedly annoy, threaten, or upset someone

She claimed that her manager had harassed her for months.

believing that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities

The couple tried to raise their children in an egalitarian household.

an unfair and unreasonable opinion about someone, formed without enough knowledge or thought

The campaign challenges gender prejudice in society.

a tendency to favour or oppose someone unfairly, often without realising it

Unconscious bias can affect who gets promoted at work.

treating all people or sides equally, without favouring one over another

Recruiters should stay impartial when comparing male and female applicants.

an invisible barrier that prevents women or minorities from being promoted to senior positions

Many female executives say they have struggled against the glass ceiling.

strong dislike, contempt, or prejudice against women

The book examines misogyny in the film industry.

a social system in which men hold most of the power and authority

Feminist writers often criticise patriarchy in traditional societies.

the belief that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men

Feminism has changed the way many people think about gender roles.

to treat a person or group as unimportant and push them to the edge of society

The policy aims to support groups that have long been marginalised.

to treat a person, especially a woman, as an object rather than as a human being

Advertisers are often accused of objectifying women's bodies.

the act of forcing a person or group into a position with little or no power or freedom

The novel tells the story of a woman's resistance to subjugation.

public support for a cause or a proposed change

Her advocacy for equal pay earned her national recognition.

to support a cause or group of people publicly and enthusiastically

She has spent her career championing equal pay for women.

the practice of making only a small effort to include people from underrepresented groups, without real change

Critics say the new board appointment is just tokenism.

the difference in average pay between two groups, such as men and women

The government released new data on the gender pay gap.

a period of time when a woman is allowed to stop working before and after having a baby

The company extended paid maternity leave to six months.

the person in a family who earns most of the money that the family needs

Traditionally, men were expected to be the family's breadwinner.

a subject that people avoid discussing because it makes them feel uncomfortable or ashamed

In many cultures, discussing periods openly is still a taboo.

having fewer people from a particular group involved or included than would be expected

Women remain underrepresented in senior management roles.

unfair treatment of people, especially women, based on their sex

The report highlights everyday sexism in the workplace.

the use of direct and public action to achieve social or political change

Online activism has helped raise awareness of gender inequality.