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What have we discovered about this theme? |
General Findings
Equal opportunity and inclusion are social aspects that have significant impact upon the town, its environment and vice versa. A tolerant and socially aware town encourages leaders from all walks of life, promotes female entrepreneurship, accepts and supports its young people, and cares for its elderly (see ‘Community Safety and Facilities’ component). It is important to understand how the design of the built area of a town can have an impact on the ability for various residents to access services (see ‘Housing’ and ‘Built Heritage’ components). This can be as simple as including disabled parking spaces in front of shops or improving the lighting along walking or cycling paths (see ‘Transport and Infrastructure’ component). However, providing equal opportunities for all residents is not as simple as treating everyone the same. This ignores the different social histories and varied experiences felt by each resident. It also overlooks certain forms of discrimination that have been adopted as everyday practice.
Essential Aspects
One of the key aspects of ensuring inclusion and equal opportunity is to recognise the importance of both diversity and equality. There is a difference between these two terms, although both are often used interchangeably. The term ‘diversity’ means ‘difference’ (see ‘Identity and Culture’ component). It represents the different groups present in a community, as well as their different needs and priorities. ‘Equality’ on the other hand means ‘sameness’. Often this is misunderstood to mean that we are all essentially the same. Instead it refers to the provision of equal opportunity to all. In this way, practitioners need to recognise the diverse needs of different groups within society, and ensure the equality of opportunity to everyone (see ‘Networks and Connections’ component).
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