This is a seminal time for Equal Opportunities & Diversity (EO&D) in the UK: the three existing Equality Commissions have been amalgamated into the Commission for Equality & Human Rights & a new Single Equality Act is promised. The concepts of EO&D now incorporate gender ethnicity disability sexual orientation religion & belief & age inequalities. For the future the problems of separate & relative deprivation & conflicting experiences & interests must be tackled both between & within different categories of disadvantage. These different complex & sometimes contradictory strands in legislation policy & practice need to be analysed & understood in order to facilitate genuine social change. This book challenges the official discourse that shapes the debates on EO&D at national regional & European level. The book will be a key text for students & researchers of EO&D in criminology social policy sociology womens studies gender studies public administration business studies economics & management & industrial relations at both undergraduate & postgraduate courses. It will also be of interest to EO&D professionals & policy makers in public & private sector organisations.