Sex Discrimination

There are four forms of discrimination identified and these are:

• Direct discrimination in that the person is treated less favourablythan a member of the opposite sex
• Indirect discrimination in that there could be a larger proportion of one sex than the other thus making it difficult for promotion, transfer, etc.
• Discrimination by way of victimisation, e.g. refusal to promote or subjecting the individual to verbal abuse
• Discrimination by way of harassment e.g. where someone engages in unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating the other person’s dignity, or creating a hostile, degrading, or humiliating environment.

It may be lawful to discriminate on the grounds of sex if you can show that it is a genuine occupational requirement.