Making Comparisons in Equality Law

This book seeks to rebalance the relationship between comparison and justification to achieve more effective equality and non-discrimination law. As one of the most distinguished equality lawyers of his generation, having appeared in over 40 cases in the House of Lords and the Supreme Court and many leading cases in the Court of Justice, Robin Allen QC is well placed to explore this critical issue. He shows how the principle of equality is nothing if not founded on apt comparisons. By examining the changing way men and women's work has been compared over the last 100 years he shows the importance of understanding the framework for comparison. With these insights, he addresses contemporary problems of age discrimination and conflict of equality rights.

• Discusses different approaches to comparisons in equality law and illuminates the theory of comparison in its historical context enabling better understanding of potential for development
• Examines some of the most difficult issues in equality law and, through a cross-cutting analysis of the treatment of different protected characteristics, it shows common themes and deepens understandings of this area of law
• Interrogates three central issues relating to equality law: labour equality, gender equality, and age equality; charting their historical development and examining their relevance to contemporary society