Open Conversations

The Open University
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Big issues. Fresh perspectives. Open Conversations brings together researchers, experts and changemakers to explore the ideas, evidence and lived experiences behind today's biggest social challenges. From equality and democracy to technology, wellbeing and climate, each episode features thought-provoking conversations that connect research with the real world we live in.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Equal means equal: What Equality Looks Like in Practice

    What does equality really mean in practice? In this episode of Open Conversations, Open University experts explore equality, social justice, intersectionality and lived experience – and why equality on paper doesn’t always mean equality in real life. Professor Caroline Derry, an expert in criminal justice, law and gender, and social scientist Manik Gopinath, whose research focuses on structural inequality, diversity and co-production, join host Dr Karen Bowen to explore what needs to change to create a fairer society. Drawing on research, policy and lived experience, they discuss the difference between formal and substantive equality, how overlapping inequalities can shape people’s experiences, and why treating everyone the same doesn’t necessarily lead to equal outcomes. The conversation explores how lived experience and activism can expose systemic inequalities and help drive legal and policy reform, including examples from sexual offences law, Grenfell and Awaab’s Law. They also consider the limits of current legal systems, the challenges of turning policy into meaningful change, and how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence could reinforce existing inequalities and bias. 🎙️ Guests Professor Caroline Derry – Expert in criminal justice, law and gender, drawing on feminist legal theory. Manik Gopinath – Social scientist researching structural inequality, diversity and co-production, with a particular focus on older people and minority ethnic communities. Host: Dr Karen Bowen ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 What does “equal means equal” really mean? 01:34 Formal equality vs real-world equality 05:01 Equality, fairness and lived experience 07:09 When equal laws create unequal outcomes 11:18 Why lived experience matters 13:06 How activism can drive change 15:10 When law and activism collide 18:49 Why change and legal reform take time 20:31 Equality, activism and political backlash 21:24 Is the legal system equipped for inequality? 23:51 Could AI reinforce existing inequalities? 25:47 Emerging threats to equality 27:35 What would create genuine equality? 29:59 Final thoughts 🔗 Explore more What Is Law? https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society-politics-law/law/what-law Myths in Law https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society-politics-law/myths-law/content-section-0?active-tab=description-tab Most judges are old white men https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society-politics-law/myths-law/content-section-4 🎓 Study with The Open University Business and law – Access module: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/y035/ Bachelor of Laws (Honours): https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/law/degrees/bachelor-of-laws-llb-r81/ Master of Laws: https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f25/ Big issues. Fresh perspectives. Open Conversations brings together researchers, experts and changemakers to explore the ideas, evidence and lived experiences behind today's biggest social challenges. From equality and democracy to technology, wellbeing and climate, each episode features thought-provoking conversations that connect research with the real world we live in. 🎧 Subscribe for more Open Conversations, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. #Equality #SocialJustice #Intersectionality

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Big issues. Fresh perspectives. Open Conversations brings together researchers, experts and changemakers to explore the ideas, evidence and lived experiences behind today's biggest social challenges. From equality and democracy to technology, wellbeing and climate, each episode features thought-provoking conversations that connect research with the real world we live in.

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  • Creator
    The Open University
  • Episodes
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright The Open University
  • Show Website
    Open Conversations