Glossary beginning with D

D

Different-sex relationship search for term

A relationship containing people of two different sexes. This term is preferred instead of opposite-sex, as ‘opposite’ is based on the incorrect assumption that there are only two possible sexes and that they are immutable.

Discrimination search for term

Unequal or unfair treatment which can be based on a range of grounds, such as age, ethnic background, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or sex characteristics . Can be divided into four different types of discrimination, which all can lead to victimisation and harassment:

Direct discrimination: where a person is treated less favourably than others on grounds of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.

Indirect discrimination: where an apparently neutral provision or practice would put people of particular sexual orientation or gender identity at a disadvantage compared to others.\

Multiple discrimination: discrimination based on more than one ground.

Experienced discrimination: also called subjective discrimination, is the experience of being discriminated against. Experienced discrimination does not necessarily entail discrimination in the legal sense.

Victimisation: a specific term describing discrimination that a person suffers because they have made a complaint or been a witness in another person's complaint.

Harassment: any act or conduct that is unwelcome to the victim, which could be regarded in relation to the victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and/or as offensive, humiliating or intimidating. It can include spoken words, gestures or the production, display or circulation of written words, pictures or other material.

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