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 all, often with emphasis on members of various social groups which might have at some time suffered from discrimination. This can involve the hiring of workers and other such practices. Social groupings generally emphasized in such a way 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 or reverse discrimination. The United States federal government and various state and local governments require affirmative action in terms of governmental hiring and contracting; many other countries make such action illegal.

The method of providing equal opportunity, and the likelihood that such a state of equality is impossible are aspects of the controversial nature of the concept of "Equal opportunity".

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
• United Kingdom
  • The Equal Opportunities Commission (gender equality)
  • UK Governmen Women & Equality Unit
  • The Commission for Racial Equality (racial equality)
  • Disability Rights Commission (disablement equality)
• United States
  • NAFEO - National Association For Equal Opportunity In Higher Education (US)
  • Department of the Interior Office for Equal Opportunity (US)
  • Center for Equal Opportunity (US)