What are the 9 characteristics of discrimination?

Asked by: Bethel Frami  |  Last update: May 3, 2026
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The 9 characteristics of discrimination, primarily defined by the UK's Equality Act 2010, are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex, and sexual orientation, which protect individuals from unfair treatment in areas like employment based on these traits. These "protected characteristics" ensure people aren't disadvantaged due to inherent qualities or life stages.

What are the 9 characteristics?

Under the Equality Act 2010, there are 9 protected characteristics which are; age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

What are the 9 grounds of discrimination?

The foundation for equality in the workplace is the Employment Equality Act 1998, which promotes equality and prohibits discrimination across the nine grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion and member- ship of the Traveller community.

What are the nine types of discrimination?

Types of discrimination ('protected characteristics')

  • age.
  • gender reassignment.
  • being married or in a civil partnership.
  • being pregnant or on maternity leave.
  • disability.
  • race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin.
  • religion or belief.
  • sex.

What are the 9 main characteristics of the Equality Act 2010?

The nine protected characteristics are:

  • age.
  • disability.
  • gender reassignment.
  • marriage and civil partnership.
  • pregnancy and maternity.
  • race.
  • religion or belief.
  • sex.

Understanding Equality & Diversity - Equality Act 2010 [UK]

40 related questions found

How to remember the 9 protected characteristics?

We remember the protected characteristics by using the mnemonic:

  1. DR S GRAMPS.
  2. Disability.
  3. Race.
  4. Sex.
  5. Gender reassignment.
  6. Religion or beliefs.
  7. Age.
  8. Marriage or civil partnership.

What are the 4 types of discrimination in the Equality Act 2010?

age discrimination. disability discrimination. gender reassignment discrimination. marriage and civil partnership discrimination.

What are the 9 reasons for discrimination?

This article explains 9 grounds of discrimination in Ireland and their meaning.

  • Gender. Gender Discrimination occurs when someone is treated differently because of their gender. ...
  • Civil status. ...
  • Family status. ...
  • Sexual orientation. ...
  • Age. ...
  • Disability. ...
  • Race. ...
  • Religion.

What are the 9 types or classes of people protected from discrimination at work?

This law provides protection from harassment or discrimination in employment because of: age (40 and over), ancestry, color, religious creed, denial of family and medical care leave, disability (mental and physical) including HIV and AIDS, marital status, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), national ...

What are the 10 types of discrimination?

Below are ten types of discrimination.

  • Age discrimination. ...
  • Disability. ...
  • Gender/sexual orientation. ...
  • Gender identity/gender expression. ...
  • Genetic information. ...
  • Military status/military obligations. ...
  • National origin. ...
  • Religion.

What is title 9 discrimination?

Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

What are the main types of discrimination?

You're protected from all the main types of discrimination - direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation. You might also be protected from an extra type of discrimination called 'pregnancy and maternity discrimination'.

What is Section 9 of the Race Discrimination Act?

(a) Section 9(1)

To establish a breach of s 9(1), a complainant must establish the following elements: a person did an act; the act involved a distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference; the act was based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin (see 3.2.

What are the 9 grounds of the Equality Act?

The protected grounds are gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief or lack of belief, age, disability, race including nationality, and membership in the Traveller community.

What is considered discrimination?

Discrimination is treating someone unfairly or less favorably because of their membership in a specific group, like their race, gender, age, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, denying them equal opportunities or rights in areas like jobs, housing, or public services, often based on stereotypes or assumptions. It involves making unjustified distinctions that harm individuals or groups, violating their legal or human rights. 

What are the 9 strands of diversity?

The nine key protected characteristics to promote diversity and protect against discrimination in the workplace are:

  • Age.
  • Disability (mental or physical)
  • Gender reassignment.
  • Marriage and civil partnership.
  • Pregnancy and maternity.
  • Race.
  • Religion or belief.
  • Sex.

What are the 9 protected characteristics?

The 9 protected characteristics under the UK's Equality Act 2010 are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation, all serving to protect people from discrimination in areas like work, education, and public services.
 

What are the nine groups of discrimination?

The characteristics that are protected by the Equality Act 2010 are:

  • age.
  • disability.
  • gender reassignment.
  • marriage or civil partnership (in employment only)
  • pregnancy and maternity.
  • race.
  • religion or belief.
  • sex.

What are the 7 areas of discrimination?

While there isn't a universal "7 types" list, discrimination is broadly categorized by the protected characteristics people are unfairly treated for, commonly including Race/Color, Religion, Sex (Gender, Pregnancy, LGBTQ+ status), National Origin, Age, Disability, and Genetic Information, with variations like harassment, retaliation, and familial status also recognized, all stemming from treating someone differently based on these inherent traits.
 

What are the 14 types of discrimination?

The 14 prohibited grounds for discrimination or harassment

  • Race. ...
  • It's the color of your skin.
  • It is for example the fact of being a woman or a man. ...
  • Gender identity or gender expression. ...
  • It's the fact of being pregnant and having a baby. ...
  • It is the emotional or sexual attraction to someone. ...
  • It's your family status.

What are the six basis of discrimination?

Applicants, employees and former employees are protected from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or transgender status), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history).

What is the basic of discrimination?

Discrimination is an action, behaviour, decision, or omission that treats a person or a group of people unfairly and badly for reasons linked to personal traits, such as their race, age or disability.

What are 5 examples of discrimination?

Five examples of discrimination include racial discrimination (not hiring someone due to race), gender discrimination (paying a woman less for the same job as a man), disability discrimination (denying service because someone uses a wheelchair), age discrimination (forcing older employees out), and religious discrimination (ridiculing someone for wearing a headscarf). These examples show unfair treatment in hiring, pay, services, or general environment based on protected characteristics like race, sex, age, disability, or religion.
 

How do I prove discrimination?

Direct evidence is the best way to show that you experienced discrimination and can include verbal comments or statements written in memos, notes, emails, or other personal or professional communications.

What is unfair discrimination?

Unfair discrimination occurs when an employer shows favour, prejudice or bias for or against a person on a prohibited ground, including a person's race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibility, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, HIV status, conscience, ...