Thinking About Equality

Abstract:     
This discussion, part of a forum reviewing in the first 20 years of Australia's Sex Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth), considers what is understood by the notion of 'equality' when used in the context of the Sex Discrimination Act. While the term is often used when talking of legislation of such kinds, equality is a concept with a number of different meanings. In particular we examine the persistence of an understanding of equality as merely formal equality or at best subject to a 'differences approach'. We argue that this is a limited way to understand the concept of equality.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 8

Keywords: Sex Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth), gender, equality, formal equality, substantive equality

JEL Classification: K10, K19, J71, J16

Accepted Paper Series