Discrimination is about power and the abuse of power. Discrimination prevents people from achieving equality of opportunity and outcome. Discrimination perpetuates the existing structures that deny economic, political, civil and social rights to women. Discrimination is sometimes internalized. Discrimination impacts the emotional and physical well-being of individuals and leads to social disintegration.
Discrimination denies the historical and ongoing contributions of specific groups of women.
Discrimination is a system of oppression which affects the way people view the world around them. Discrimination shapes perceptions of who belongs' and who 'doesn't belong'. Discrimination creates a society of 'insiders' and 'outsiders' - 'us' and 'them'. Discrimination towards those deemed to 'not belong' or be 'outsiders' in our society privileges those seen to 'belong'. NAC recognizes that this responsibility extends to all individuals involved with the organizations.