2007 Handbooks

This unit has been structured to focus on the role of law in discrimination. As the name suggests, this unit covers more than anti-discrimination legislation. It begins by exploring the principle of equality and discussing why specific kinds of discrimination are considered unacceptable. The main but not the sole focus is on race and gender as grounds of discrimination. The distinction between formal and substantive equality and the development of the notions of equal opportunity and reverse discrimination are used to explain how the concept of equality is translated into the legal right to equality. Various analyses of the nature of law and the nature of the state provide the conceptual tools for analysing the role of law in maintaining or eradicating discrimination. With this background a detailed study of the anti-discrimination laws and cases will help in understanding the role of law and its limits as an instrument of social change. The aim of the unit is to enable the students to gain conceptual knowledge that can be applied to analyse any area of law.

ONLINE STUDY: This unit offers a unique opportunity to study law online. Distance education students can elect to take part in weekly discussions through email and listserve and the consequent assessment scheme in lieu of the on-campus session. Anyone with a computer and an email facility can elect to participate in this scheme. The online option is designed to generate an ongoing discussion with members of the group. The emphasis is on twofold, consistent participation and, therefore, every week the participants will write their own critique as well as comment on others' critiques. Those who take the online option may choose to attend the on-campus/residential session as well. It is compulsory to take part in the weekly discussions and participation will be assessed. Details of the online option will be included in the posted unit instructions.