Detecting and highlighting

1

• Detecting and highlighting
• inequalities, improving responses
• Researching discrimination
• The Eurobarometer as a
• case study-

Equality Summit Paris Sept. 2008 Prepared by TNS
opinion social
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AGENDA

• Why research the topic?

How best to approach it? -The Eurobarometer as a
case study-

• Where are we now?
• Recent key findings EB
• Q1 2008-

Where to from here?
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AGENDA

• Why research the topic?

How best to approach it? -The Eurobarometer as a
case study-

• Where are we now?
• Recent key findings EB
• Q1 2008-

Where to from here?
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WHY RESEARCH THE TOPIC?
The 3 Ds
Gender
Age
Race/ ethnicity
Challenge
Objective
Disability
Religion

• To understand
• To quantify
• To share and learn

• To develop public policies answering the various
  challenges on the ground EB is a key source of
  information

Sexual orientation
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AGENDA

• Why research the topic?

How best to approach it? -The Eurobarometer as a
case study-

• Where are we now?
• Recent key findings EB
• Q1 2008-

Where to from here?
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HOW BEST TO APPROACH IT?
.
Researching discrimination is not easy
Guidelines and limitations
Sampling and qnaire design

• A priori targeting identifying target
  respondents during sampling by assessing
  ethnicity of names in telephone directories
  possible in DE not in FR
• Great care in questionnaire design i.e.
  indirect or projected wording and
  unambiguous/easy wording
• Looking at this card, please show me into which
  age group you fall?
• Some people describe themselves as very
  religious, whilst others do not. Looking at this
  scale, what is closest to your view?
• Always allow the respondents a DK/refusal option

• Personal data protection in particular by
  reference to an identification number or to one
  or more factors specific to his physical,
  physiological, mental, economic, cultural or
  social identity" (Directive 95/46/EC art. 2 a)

• Protection of privacy and respondent identity
  (Esomar, Art.7)

• Majority of Census surveys ask citizenship or
  nationality few include race/ethnicity questions
  (i.e UK SA)

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HOW BEST TO APPROACH IT?
A brief introduction to Eurobarometer
Commissioned by European Commission
(DG Communication)
Ongoing since 1973
Size and scope up to 34 countries
Number of interviews approx. 200.000 per
year
Number of questions asked approx. 1000 per
year
National languages 44
Target market Population 15 years of age
EU residents/citizens selection
via birthday rule
Sampling Probability proportionate to
size weighted to population sizes
(N435 million)
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HOW BEST TO APPROACH IT?
Discrimination questions on Eurobarometer Commiss
ioned by DG Employment Asked 2006 on EU25 2008
on EU27
Relevant socio-demographics
Key topics

• Belonging to a minority group

• Additional demographic and cross
  variables/questions

• Diversity in social circle

• Perception of discrimination in Europe

• Standard demographics
• Nationality
• Religion
• Country of birth parents country of birth

• Experience of discrimination

• Knowledge of the law

• Discrimination and employment

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AGENDA

• Why research the topic?

How best to approach it? -The Eurobarometer as a
case study-

• Where are we now?
• Recent key findings EB
• Q1 2008-

Where to from here?
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?
? Few Europeans feel they are part of a minority
group
? And the average European has a reasonably
diverse social circle
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• Discrimination (especially on ethnic grounds)
  seems to remain widespread

2008 figures based on EU27 2006 based on
EU25 NB Dont know and non-existent
(SPONTANEOUS) answers are not shown
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• And about one in three Europeans sees multiple
  discrimination as widespread

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13
WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• Earlier results on the diverse social circle are
  reflected in (claimed) comfort levels

A brief look at the Roma
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• Whilst measures on the Roma are likely reflective
  of ingrained stereotypes and highly visible media
  attention, rather than actual experience

• 14 of Europeans claim to have Roma friends and
  acquaintances

• Having a Roma as a neighbour shows the lowest
  comfortability score (6/10)

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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• About one in three claimed to have witnessed
  discrimination/
• harassment

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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• Whilst claimed actual victimisation (one in
  seven) is lower

12 one 3 multiple
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• About a third of Europeans are aware of their
  rights as victims in this context

Low levels of DK suggest some overclaim
2008 figures based on EU27 2006 based on EU25
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• In an employment environment, a candidates
  visual characteristics are seen as factors most
  likely to put them at a disadvantage

NB in 2008 this item was given as The
candidates sexual orientation (for example,
being gay or lesbian)
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• And similar views emerge for perceptions around
  the highest office holder

Whilst country differences emerge across the
various dimensions, it is interesting to note
that Nordic countries (SE and FI) show the
highest comfortability scores on most dimensions
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• The EU public is highly supportive of equal
  opportunities measures in employment

2008 figures based on EU27 2006 based on EU25
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• High claimed support for monitoring composition
  of work-force in terms of ethnicity

Support total 57
Oppose total 33
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• And strong claimed support also for monitoring
  recruitment procedures

No total 21
Yes total 71
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AGENDA

• Why research the topic?

How best to approach it? -The Eurobarometer as a
case study-

• Where are we now?
• Recent key findings EB
• Q1 2008-

Where to from here?
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WHERE TO FROM HERE?
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WHERE TO FROM HERE?
!
? The majority remain unaware of rights in
relation to discrimination ? Split views on
sufficiency of current efforts to combat
discrimination ? Strong support for a range of
measures aimed at ensuring equality in
employment.
!
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WHERE TO FROM HERE?
REFERENCE LINKS

• ? The surveys full report, its summary
  and country sheets with key results are available
  on the following web sites
• http//ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fundamental
  _rights/public/pubs_en.htm
• http//ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb_spe
  cial_en.htm
• THANK YOU
•