Equal opportunity is a descriptive term for an approach intended to give equal access to an environment or benefits, such as education, employment, health care, or social welfare to members of various social groups, some of which might otherwise suffer from discrimination. This can involve hiring and other practices. Major social groupings involved are those delineated by aspects of gender, race, or religion.

Equal opportunity practices that are race-blind or gender-blind may be distinguished from practices that involve or require affirmative action. The United States federal government and various state and local governments require affirmative action in terms of governmental hiring and contracting; other countries make any such action illegal.

Some think discrimination is a natural human practice which cannot be prevented by legislation. As a result, they argue that anti-discrimination measures are wasteful and ineffective.

See also

• Universal access
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (US)
• Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (US)
• Equal Opportuinity (New Brunswick)

External links

• Australia
  • Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (http://www.hreoc.gov.au/)
• United Kingdom
  • The Equal Opportunities Commission (gender equality) (http://www.eoc.org.uk/)
  • UK Governmen Women & Equality Unit (http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/)
  • The Commission for Racial Equality (racial equality) (http://www.cre.gov.uk/)
  • Disability Rights Commission (disablement equality) (http://www.drc-gb.org/)
• United States
  • NAFEO - National Association For Equal Opportunity In Higher Education (US) (http://www.nafeo.org/)
  • Department of the Interior Office for Equal Opportunity (US) (http://www.doi.gov/diversity/)
  • Center for Equal Opportunity (US) (http://www.ceousa.org/)