Equity, Intersectionality and Anti-oppressive Practice

The history of health and social care interventions are littered with examples of professional practice rooted in discrimination and oppression. In recent years, numerous social movements have highlighted the inequalities and divisions that have structured social experience, and the way these intersect with each other to produce discriminatory outcomes. Equality legislation has proliferated, and there is much greater recognition of the need to deliver services in ways that avoid harm, challenge oppression and seek to promote equity and social justice. Professional ethics within any health and social care field now reflect principles of anti-oppressive practice, and therefore consideration of the theoretical underpinnings and their application to practice is emerging as a crucial dimension of health and social care education. This chapter provides the reader with an introduction to the key issues relating to equity, intersectionality and anti-oppressive practice as a starting point for their professional development