In a recent BBC.com piece it seems that Scotland is one of the most accepting countries in the land. Titled 'Prejudice Of All Types 'Falling Across Scotland',' the article highlights several types of discrimination that have appeared to lessen across Scotland.
- Prejudice based on age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity or religion is falling, a study for the Scottish government has suggested.
- The report said 70% of Scots believed everything possible should be done to rid Scotland of prejudice of all kinds.
- It showed a 50% drop since 2010 in those who would be unhappy about a relative in a same-sex relationship.
- It also suggested almost 90% of people think a woman who has taken a year off after having a baby is equally deserving of promotion as a woman who has not.
- The Equality Network welcomed the suggestion that the proportion of people in Scotland who think that same-sex relationships are always or mostly wrong had fallen to its lowest ever level of 18%.
- "It's also because a lot more people have come out. People are less likely to hold discriminatory attitudes if they have a friend or family member they know is lesbian, gay or bisexual. Only 15% of Scots now say they don't know anyone lesbian or gay." – bbc.com
Those are some great numbers! I am sure there is a correlation between the 18% and 15% mentioned above, but that sounds like another story. Head over to bbc.com for more facts and figures about how Scotland is becoming so very accepting. Two factors they do mention are the narrowing of the age gap since 2010 as well as the increase in immigration to the country.
The study does show that not all types of discrimination are lessening unfortunately.
"This is a positive step towards a more inclusive Scotland. However, our research still shows relatively-high levels of prejudice towards some groups in society, such as people who cross-dress, those who have undergone gender reassignment and gypsy/travellers." – bbc.com
No matter how good the numbers, there is always work to do. The study shows great progress, but it also points out where we still need to grow and accept.
h/t: bbc.com
I hate be the bucket of cold
I hate be the bucket of cold water here, but a single piece by a multi-national conglomerate does not mean much. Although these numbers appear encouraging, please keep in mind that modern day surveys are anything but reliable. The article makes no mention about how these numbers were gathered, what the response rate for the survey was, what questions were asked, what the raw numbers were, etc. Also, we live in the most over-analyzed times of human history. Thousands of new surveys are performed every day. It becomes very easy for respondents to figure out what researchers are looking for. They will then give the answers that investigators are hoping for. In short, people will lie on surveys to give the socially appropriate answers. Look I'm glad humanity is becoming more excepting of "outsiders," but most social science studies need to taken with a grain of salt. And if they are conducted outside of academia by lay persons, then they need to be taken with a truckload of salt.
Nope, the BBC article does
Nope, the BBC article does not mention the numbers / gathering etc. specifically, but if you go th the article and click a little deeper and want to read the full report / survey, go to http://www.ssa.natcen.ac.uk/media/38903/attitudes-to-discrimination-and-positive-action-2015.pdf