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Equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamentally connected to approaches to gender equality. As highlighted at the outset of this report, it is important to view gender not on its own, but rather as part of the intersectional identity of an individual, including other social categories such as race, class and socioeconomic background which, when taken in combination, can create different, multiple, overlapping disadvantages, discriminations, and marginalisations. As stated in the introduction, taking an intersectional approach to gender equality which addresses power relationships helps to actively tackle all forms of discrimination. This means engaging with complexity, consciously seeking out hidden voices, developing a nuanced understanding of solutions. It also requires an active questioning of our own privileges and identities and an understanding of our own position in power structures. In the following chapter, we explore the intersection of gender and race, migration background, disability, ageing and LGBTQI and how cities are working on these topics in an integrated way to drive positive change for their residents.

7A. RACE AND ETHNIC ORIGIN

Discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin is prohibited in the European Union (EU). Yet such discrimination persists. This means that a large number of people living in Europe face discrimination, affecting their human dignity, life opportunities, prosperity, well-being, and often also personal safety. Racial inequalities manifest themselves in many urban contexts, from access to housing, education and the labour market to public services; people of colour also frequently experience casual racism in everyday life. Women and girls of colour experience discrimination not only because of their gender, but also as a result of their racial, ethnic and/ or religious identity. For instance, harassment based on both misogyny and xenophobia can mean that women and girls of colour have greater concerns about security in

public space. People, and particularly women and girls of colour, are poorly represented at all levels of politics and business, as well as in culture and the media, meaning that women and girls of colour have fewer role models and, as a result, frequently less feeling of belonging. In 2021, the European Commission nominated its first Coordinator for combatting racism, Michaela Moua, who works with Commission services to implement the Commission s policy on preventing and combating racism. Addressing racial injustice means cities proactively tackling long term institutional and cultural change, recognising the diverse experiences of women from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds, centring those voices, and providing equal opportunities for all.

Work 29%

People feel mostly discriminated based on their ethnic origin in access to:

Housing 23%

Education 12%

Goods and services 22%

Source: European Commission (2020)