Quick Guide: Equality in the UK from bbc.co.uk/news
Introduction
Equality laws are designed to ensure public bodies treat everyone in the UK equally.
Others specifically protect minorities.
Recent changes will have far-reaching effects on British society for years to come.
Equality laws reflect how society sees itself, although they may not reflect the reality of what happens in practice.
The laws feed the debate about modern Britain, such as how multicultural and diverse societies treat minorities and how to define what it is to be a citizen.
Gender
When women won the vote following World War One, it was just the start of a battle for gender equality.
Women comprise 51% of society but are by no means in the driving seat.
The average full-time earnings for a woman is £100 a week less than that for a man.
Women hold just one in 10 of the top jobs in FTSE 100 companies and take on the lion's share of childcare.
One current issue is flexible working to help mothers work and allow fathers more time with children.
Race and religion
British law says you have a right not to suffer discrimination on racial grounds.
It was strengthened following the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.
Public bodies must now do a lot more to prevent discrimination, rather than just condemn it as wrong.
There have been recent moves to outlaw incitement to religious hatred, but there has been a counter-campaign arguing it infringes freedom of speech.
Wide income inequalities still exist, but there is no consensus over what to do about them.
Disability
The Conservatives made the first moves on disability discrimination but Labour has implemented new rights under the law.
Employers must make "reasonable adjustments" to ensure someone with a disability can compete for the post: adjustments such as home-working or flexible hours.
The most recent changes have banned discrimination in other areas of life, such as access to shops and services.
One key issue is how to reform incapacity benefit to help people work.
Sexuality
Queen Victoria refused to believe lesbians existed - but the 21st century has seen radical change on sexuality.
Labour equalised the age of consent at 16 and repealed the "Section 28" ban on councils "promoting" homosexuality.
From December same-sex couples will get civil partnerships, gay marriage in all but name because it gives them legal protection and recognition.
Hotels and services can still legally bar same-sex couples, something they can't do on race or disability grounds.
Enforcing rights
An important recent change was the 1998 Human Rights Act which incorporated Europe-wide standards into British law.
It tells public bodies to treat all equally, but does not say one group has more rights than another group.
If Labour is re-elected, it will create a single watchdog for discrimination issues, covering race, religion, gender and more.
They say it would be a champion for equality by protecting the rights of all British citizens, but the Tories worry it could be too bureaucratic.
https://www.gov.uk/equality-act-2010-guidance (Equality Act overview and guidance)
