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Developing Key Indicators of ‘Fairness’: Competing Frameworks, Multiple Strands and Ten Domains – an Array of Statistics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2011

Sylvia Walby  and
Jo Armstrong
Sylvia Walby
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Lancaster, UK E-mail: s.walby@lancaster.ac.uk
Jo Armstrong
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Lancaster, UK E-mail: J.E.Armstrong@lancaster.ac.uk
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Abstract

This article argues that it is possible to develop key indicators to assess the broad agenda of ‘fairness’, even in the context of competing frameworks (e.g. equality, capabilities), multiple equality strands (gender, race/ethnicity, disability, age, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender identity and social class) and several domains (e.g. health, education). Indicators are required to summarise complex statistical information to make it accessible to a wide audience. Methods for selecting indicators are discussed: identifying overlaps in frameworks, finding commonalities and applying quality criteria. Synthesising in this way enables identification of ‘key indicators’ of equality, including: intimate partner violence, risk of poverty and pay gaps.

Type
Themed Section on Equality and Human Rights in Britain
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , April 2011 , pp. 205 - 218
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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