Understanding discrimination

Flip each card to see a concise explanation. Hover with a mouse or press the “Flip card” button with keyboard focus.

Gender identity discrimination
Unfair treatment based on a person's internal sense of gender
Overview
What it means

Occurs when someone is treated less favorably because their gender identity (e.g., male, female, non-binary, trans) doesn’t align with stereotypes or expectations, affecting hiring, services, housing, or everyday interactions.

Intersex discrimination
Bias against people with sex characteristics variations
Overview
What it means

Involves unfair treatment of intersex people due to physical sex traits that vary from typical definitions of male or female, including exclusion, harassment, or barriers in education, work, healthcare, and services.

Sexual orientation discrimination
Unequal treatment based on who someone is attracted to
Overview
What it means

Happens when a person is disadvantaged because of their sexual orientation (e.g., heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual), such as being denied opportunities, harassed, or treated differently in workplaces and public settings.

Marital status discrimination
Prejudice tied to being single, married, divorced, or widowed
Overview
What it means

Occurs when someone is treated unfairly because of their marital status, for example, refusing housing to singles, penalizing married employees, or imposing policies that disadvantage divorced or widowed people.

Pregnancy discrimination
Unlawful disadvantage due to pregnancy or potential pregnancy
Overview
What it means

Includes denying jobs, promotions, reasonable adjustments, or equal treatment because a person is pregnant or may become pregnant, and can extend to adverse comments, policies, or conditions that penalize pregnancy.

Breastfeeding discrimination
Penalizing or excluding someone for breastfeeding or expressing milk
Overview
What it means

Occurs when people are discouraged, excluded, or denied reasonable facilities to breastfeed or express milk, or face negative consequences at work, in public, or when accessing services because they are breastfeeding.

Family responsibilities discrimination
Bias related to caring duties for children, elders, or dependants
Overview
What it means

Involves adverse treatment because someone has current or perceived caregiving responsibilities, such as denial of flexible arrangements, promotions, or equal opportunities due to parenting or carer roles.