Equality Act 2010 Explanatory Notes

Examples

738.These exceptions would allow:

  • a cervical cancer screening service to be provided to women only, as only women need the service;

  • a fathers’ support group to be set up by a private nursery as there is insufficient attendance by men at the parents’ group;

  • a domestic violence support unit to be set up by a local authority for women only but there is no men-only unit because of insufficient demand;

  • separate male and female wards to be provided in a hospital;

  • separate male and female changing rooms to be provided in a department store;

  • a massage service to be provided to women only by a female massage therapist with her own business operating in her clients’ homes because she would feel uncomfortable massaging men in that environment.

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