New
New
Year 11
AQA

Ethical arguments related to racial discrimination

I can explain racism and key ethical arguments about justice and equality.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Ethical arguments related to racial discrimination

I can explain racism and key ethical arguments about justice and equality.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Racism can be individual or systemic, rooted in bias, history and structures, and continues despite legal protections.
  2. White privilege and positive action reveal ongoing inequality and ways to address it.
  3. Windrush, the Bristol Bus Boycott and Black Lives Matter expose past and present racial injustice.
  4. Ethical responses include human rights, virtue ethics and utilitarianism.
  5. Key debates include fairness in positive action, limits on racist speech, and the role of anti-racism.

Keywords

  • Discrimination - actions that come from prejudice attitudes

  • Equality - belief that everyone is equal in value and worth

  • Justice - what is right and fair

  • Positive action - taking steps to support underrepresented groups, such as encouraging applications from ethnic minority candidates in fields where they are underrepresented

  • Racism - prejudice, discrimination or hostility directed at someone based on their race, ethnicity or skin colour

Common misconception

Racism only exists when someone deliberately says or does something hateful.

Racism can also be unconscious, indirect or systemic. It includes things like biased policies, underrepresentation, microaggressions and privilege.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Ethical arguments related to racial discrimination, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

An explanation of white privilege is included, although this is not required and so could be removed from the lesson if necessary.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
What was the main goal of the Equal Pay Act?
to promote religious freedom
to end all gender stereotypes
Correct answer: to ensure women and men receive equal pay for equal work
Q2.
Subtle gender can continue even after laws are passed to promote equality.
Correct Answer: discrimination, Discrimination
Q3.
What do humanists use as the basis for promoting equality?
Correct answer: reason and fairness
government laws
traditional roles
Q4.
What do feminist theologians challenge within Christianity?
all Bible verses
teachings about charity
Correct answer: male-dominated leadership and interpretations
Q5.
Which Christian denomination does not allow women to become priests?
Correct answer: Catholic Church
Methodist Church
Baptist Church

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Match each term to its correct meaning.
Correct Answer:discrimination,actions that come from prejudice attitudes

actions that come from prejudice attitudes

Correct Answer:equality,the belief that everyone is equal in value and worth

the belief that everyone is equal in value and worth

Correct Answer:justice,what is right and fair

what is right and fair

Q2.
Racism can be individual or ...
Correct Answer: systemic, Systemic
Q3.
Why is white privilege sometimes invisible to those who have it?
It is part of law.
It is part of history.
Correct answer: It is built into everyday experience.
Q4.
The Bristol Bus protested against racial discrimination.
Correct Answer: Boycott, boycott
Q5.
What are microaggressions?
physical attacks
Correct answer: subtle, often unintentional insults or dismissals
major protests