ABSTRACT
In order to understand discrimination, a term which encompasses a variety of forms, we must first define it. According to the Cambridge Dictionary (online), discrimination occurs when one treats ‘a person or particular group of people differently, especially in a worse way . . . because of their skin colour, sex, sexuality, etc’. In other words, discrimination takes place when an individual or group encounters differential treatment as a result of one or more of their identity markers. These identity markers, which are usually externally visible, include age, class, colour, disability, height, language, physical attractiveness, ‘race’/ethnicity, religion, sex/gender, sexuality, weight/size, etc. Although our uniqueness should be celebrated, instead, these differences among human groups have led to specific forms of discrimination, e.g. anti-Semitism, homophobia, Islamophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia, xenophobia, etc. In order to protect individuals and groups from discrimination, nations have imposed laws to ensure equality, e.g. Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act (1975), Germany’s General Equal Treatment Act (2006), the UK’s Disability Discrimination Act (2005), the US’s Civil Rights Act (1991), etc. However, despite legislation, prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory practices still exist and affect individuals and groups on a daily basis. Discrimination is manifest within education, employment, housing, the legal system – and sport is no exception. Discrimination, then, is deep-rooted and it operates in various ways.
