Equality

Equality research in the ESRI investigates inequalities in opportunities and in outcomes, exploring the processes that lead to inequality. The research has a strong policy focus, assessing the role of public policies in underpinning or reducing inequalities.

• Differences in employment and labour market participation, on the basis of gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, and family structure (including gender inequality in pay)
• Discrimination in the labour market – recruitment practices, pregnancy related discrimination in employment
• Access to education and training, particularly variations by socio-economic group and gender. Integration of immigrant children into the Irish school system.
• Income inequality and poverty.
• Social attitudes to minority groups and their experience of discrimination.

While much of the ESRI's social research has an equality aspect, the main current work in this area is the Research Programme on Equality and Discrimination, funded by the Equality Authority.

This programme seeks to investigate the social situation of groups covered by the grounds of the Equality Legislation (gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, ethnicity and membership of the Traveller community), and to establish the extent of discrimination that these groups experience. There are a series of projects: some consider a range of grounds, some focus on a single ground like gender or ethnicity.  

To date, five studies have been published as part of the Equality Programme:

1.  Experiences of discrimination in Ireland: Analysis of the QNHS Equality Module. Published 26 May 2008.

A further study is due to be published 13 November 2009:

6. Labour Market Equality: Female Participation in the Paid Labour Market

A final project on multiple inequalities drawing on data from the 2006 Census of Population is also underway. The studies highlight both emergent and long-standing challenges to achieving equality of opportunity in Ireland. The research shows that changes in Irish society have led to new inequalities, for example, among immigrants and minority ethnic groups but these co-exist beside ‘old risks’ such as disability, age and gender. The research further demonstrates the ongoing importance of gender in structuring the daily lives of men and women and in shaping the choices available to them. Using a range of methods the studies find direct and indirect evidence of discrimination in Ireland. 

Outside the research programme, a new national study of pregnancy related discrimination in the workplace is currently being carried on behalf of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the Equality Authority. As part of the study a nationally representative survey of 5000 women with children under 2 years of age will be conducted. The survey will address women’s experiences in the workplace pre and post-birth. Fieldwork will begin in September 2009 and the results will be published in 2010. A review of pregnancy related discrimination cases taken to the Equality Tribunal has also been undertaken as part of the research project.

Programme Coordinators: Helen Russell  and Fran McGinnity

Other members of staff whose work has an equality dimension include: Philip O'Connell, Emma Quinn, Seamus McGuinness, Elish Kelly, Tim Callan, Claire Keane, Corona Joyce, Pete Lunn, Dorothy Watson, Richard Layte, Chris Whelan, Bertrand Maitre, Emer Smyth, Selina McCoy, Merike Darmody, Delma Byrne and Anne Nolan.

• Link to current projects in this area.
• Link to recently published research in this area
• Link to recently published working papers in this area