Equalities and identity
Find out more about our topics relating to protected characteristics, attitudes & isms, and societal issues
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08th - 15th November 2024
'Choose Respect' was the theme for this year's Anti-Bullying Week and we asked young people to consider how to maintain respect during conflict resolution. They discussed how to deal with disagreements in a way that doesn't lead to resentment or future problems, before reflecting on how capable they are at solving conflict effectively in the moment. At VotesforSchools, we hope they came away from their lessons feeling empowered to work through any future issues constructively, and that school staff feel the benefits of their improved understanding of this issue.
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27th September - 04th October 2024
1st October marks the beginning of Black History Month, an important celebration in the VotesforSchools calendar. This week's topic takes a closer look at how we appreciate the UK's rich history of Black individuals and communities, and how this can help support this year's theme of "Reclaiming Narratives." The 11+ lessons explored the terms ‘appropriation’ and ‘appreciation’ and students were asked to consider where a range of scenarios fell between the two terms. They also discussed how the line between the two has changed over time.
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21st - 28th June 2024
To mark Pride Month, we wanted to ensure voters were able to share their experiences of what it means to be LGBTQ+ today, so that they can help drive forward solutions to the problems the community still faces.
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17th - 24th May 2024
Nine protected characteristics were first introduced in the Equality Act 2010 and they are protected - by law - from discrimination. For this VoteTopic, we asked young people for their thoughts on the possibility of accent becoming the 10th protected characteristic.
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15th - 22nd March 2024
In light of the consultation on the DfE’s gender questioning children guidance and the current discussions of trans and non-binary young people in the media, voters explored the concept of allyship last week. They assessed the qualities needed to be an effective ally, and when & where to utilise these.
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01st - 08th March 2024
In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8th March, voters discussed role models. Across all the lessons, they had the opportunity to discuss the people they look up to, and reflect on whether gender should be a contributing factor when it comes to who influences them.
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26th January - 02nd February 2024
To coincide with the beginning of LGBT+ History Month, voters explored what they learn during awareness events and why we celebrate them. They also considered whether they might gain a greater understanding of the diversity in our society if they focused on these topics at different points in the year, or in a more consistent way.
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01st - 08th December 2023
For this VoteTopic, voters celebrated International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD), which took place on 3rd December 2023. In the lessons, they considered the ways in which technology can improve accessibility for all, whilst exploring everyday tools found in our homes and communities, as well as future innovations that could improve our lives for the better.
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10th - 17th November 2023
For this VoteTopic, voters marked Anti-Bullying Week by reflecting on the policies and schemes in place to help tackle bullying, both in school and in the workplace. The theme for this year's Anti-Bullying Week was "Make a Noise About Bullying" and it took place between 13th - 17th November 2023.
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29th September - 06th October 2023
To mark the beginning of Black History Month, voters considered the stories they know about Black British women, in keeping with this year’s theme of “Saluting our Sisters”. All voters considered the question: “Are Black British women’s stories told in our history?”
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23rd - 30th June 2023
To close Pride month 2023, voters reflected on the protesting roots of Pride and how it has evolved into the events we see today. They considered whether its original meaning has been lost amongst the rise of parades, parties and products, and reflected on whether we need to keep the rights of LGBTQ+ people at the forefront of these celebrations.
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03rd - 10th March 2023
Following the rise in misogyny online and amongst young people, this week's VoteTopic took a closer look at some examples of misogynistic behaviour in action and the potential barriers to calling out friends or peers in these situations.
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17th - 24th February 2023
For LGBT History Month and with WorldPride taking place in Sydney between the 17th February and 5th March, our voters discussed the representation of the LGBTQ+ community in the media. In particular, they explored how and how much their stories are portrayed and the actors and writers who choose to portray them.
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25th November - 02nd December 2022
In support of International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3rd December, our voters considered the use of British Sign Language to improve accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing community. It is worth noting that many in this community don’t define themselves as having a disability, however laws are in place through the British Equality Act (2010) to ensure their rights are protected. Our voters discussed what progress has already been made around BSL and whether it is enough.
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11th-18th November 2022
To mark Anti-Bullying Week, our voters considered the role of fandoms and whether they encourage or discourage negativity, primarily in but not limited to, online spaces. A fandom can be described as a community of fans of a particular person or thing and the rise of social media has strengthened their ability to communicate as a collective. Conversely, our youngest voters discussed the role of the individual in different scenarios and whether it is difficult or not to stand up against bullying.
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30th September - 7th October 2022
To mark Black History Month, our voters explored this year’s theme of “Time for change: actions not words”. They considered the role of words and actions in the context of tackling racism and discussed how significant a part each plays in the fight for equality.
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