Samantha Walsh
The Equality Act 2010 was established to protect individuals from discrimination based on certain characteristics. Currently, these protected characteristics include age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion or belief, sex & sexual orientation. However, reproductive status is not included in this list.
This omission leaves non-parents - whether by their choice, circumstance or inability to have children - vulnerable to discrimination.
Non-parents often face bias in various aspects of life. According to a study by the University of British Columbia (UBC), childless workers are often perceived as lacking 'an important aspect of adult identity' leading to discrimination in professional settings. This is not only unfair but also goes against the principle of equality that should be upheld in all workplaces.