We trace the origins of the concept of equity in the promotion of social justice in Canada. Rather than preventing denial of opportunities and benefits it has entrenched the same through the designation of “disadvantaged” groups whose members are deemed “equity-deserving”, in contrast to the others who are not. The UK should learn from the backlash this is generating in Canada.
Tag: social justice
On Stereotyping, Part 2 – Should stereotyping be considered harmful?
In Part 1 of this article where I asked Is it OK to stereotype people?, I pointed out how modern cognitive science, understood in particular in terms of the paradigm of Active Inference, leads us to conclude that stereotyping is intrinsic to all observing, understanding and learning. So any attempt to stigmatise people for engaging… Continue reading On Stereotyping, Part 2 – Should stereotyping be considered harmful?
On Stereotyping, Part 1 – Is it OK to stereotype people?
It is a commonplace assumption that stereotyping people is a bad thing which we should do our utmost to avoid. Perhaps this is a position you would agree with, on the grounds that it is wrong to make generalisations since this can result in us misjudging people and potentially treating them unfairly. But I would… Continue reading On Stereotyping, Part 1 – Is it OK to stereotype people?
Is Name Bias Discrimination Real?
In a recent essay Are We Biased in Our Attitude to Bias?, I sought to argue that the idea of bias is a subjective one and that an attempt to infer it is likely in itself to be subject to bias. Nonetheless, it continues to be regularly argued that evidence exists of bias in our… Continue reading Is Name Bias Discrimination Real?