In your role you will need to demonstrate equality and inclusion.

How did you get on? Let’s take a look at the correct answers…

Stereotyping

Stereotyping is having a fixed, over-generalised belief about the particular group of people.

Labelling

Labelling someone is putting them into a certain category based on looks or what you have heard about them. It is about judging a person before you know them. 

Assumptions

An assumption is a thing that is accepted as true or is certain to happen without proof.

Patronising

To patronise is to behave in an offensively condescending manner.

Humiliation

To humiliate is to cause (a person) a painful loss of pride, self-respect, or dignity.

Disrespect

To disrespect someone is to act in an insulting way towards them.

Insensitivity

When you are insensitive, you do not give any thought or concern about the feelings or circumstances of other people.

Here are some examples:

Example of stereotyping

All surgeons are men and all nurses are women.

Example of labelling

Everyone over the age of 80 has dementia

Example of an assumption

All people in wheelchairs have the same support needs

Example of patronising

Speaking to an elderly person like you would a child

Example of humiliation

Letting people nearby know when an individual has wet their pants

Example of disrespect

Talking only to a person pushing a wheelchair and not the person in it

Example of insensitivity

Making a negative remark about someone’s appearance

Social identity is a person’s sense of who they are.

These are some of the positive things you can do to make sure your work is inclusive and respectful of other people’s social identity:

Recognise you need to treat everyone you care for and support them as individuals. Respond to them, and their social identity, in a positive and individual way.

Recognise that your own social identity may impact on individuals in different ways.

Avoid stereotyping or making assumptions about individuals based on what you see and believe.

Increase your knowledge and understanding of aspects of social identity that may be different from your own. Understand, accept and embrace these differences.

Respect all individuals you support regardless of their social identity.

Understand that treating people fairly does not mean treating people in the same way. You need to recognise differences of needs and respond appropriately.

This short (3 minute) video on You Tube is presented by Kat who wants to change disability stereotypes.

It gives a great insight into the way people behave towards people with disabilities and Kat’s perspective. 

We hope this will help you in your work and will empower you to challenge people who behave inappropriately towards the people you work with.