Faculty Development

Challenging discrimination: suggested answers

1. Issues/principles

• We should ensure we treat all people in a respectful way. Learners’ behaviour may make patients feel patronised.
• Consider what the impact of learners’ behaviour is on the patient.
• Consider when it might be the best time to intervene.
• The intention of learners may be positive, i.e. wants to help. Your role is to manage the effect of behaviour on patients.

2. Is this just an individual need or a wider learning issue?

• Language does change, evolve. We should try to keep up to date but recognise this may not always be possible.
• Occasionally we will all get language ‘wrong’. The important thing is that we learn from this and get language ‘right’ next time.
• You might want to discuss this with your students or trainees in a tutorial.
• Organisations may be reluctant to produce definitive guidance on language as it does change. This document from the Equality and Human Rights Commission may provide a thoughtful introduction to language and its power.

3. What are the underlying reasons for the learner’s assumptions? Is it lack of knowledge and understanding or underlying prejudice? Your approach may vary depending on your judgement on this.

• There is a need to be clear with learners about our expectations of them and their behaviour is.

4. Consider when might be the best time to intervene. A comment, in the moment, makes a clear statement to all present what behaviour is acceptable/not acceptable.

• Doing nothing could be seen as condoning behaviour.
• Talking to learners after meeting may be less embarrassing for them and allow more conversation around what is acceptable or not. It does not send out a message to all people present.
• As a learning practitioner you are responsible for setting the right tone. You need to consider when/how you challenge.

5. Your role is not to make a judgement about whether racism may or may not be taking place. Your role is to:

• listen to the learner
• name the problem: ‘So you feel you are being treated in a racist manner?’
• explore how the learner wants to resolve the situation. Provide clear options to them
• take any supportive action that may be required and monitor the situation carefully
• be aware that this situation could result in a formal harassment and discrimination investigation.

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