missgynnande

Missgynnande is a Swedish term used to describe unfavourable or disadvantageous treatment of a person or group relative to others in a similar situation. It is commonly used in discussions of equality and anti-discrimination to express the outcome of discriminatory practices, regardless of the perpetrator’s stated intent. The concept covers any situation where someone is placed at a disadvantage because of characteristics that are protected by law, such as gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age, or other protected grounds.

In Swedish law, missgynnande is central to the purpose of the Discrimination Act (Diskrimineringslagen). The act prohibits discrimination on the listed grounds in areas including employment, education, housing, and access to goods and services. The law distinguishes between direct discrimination, where a person is treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic, and indirect discrimination, where a neutral rule or practice disadvantages a protected group more than others. Missgynnande thus describes the effect or outcome of discriminatory practices, whether or not bias was intentional.

Missgynnande can occur in many contexts, such as hiring, promotion, pay, admission to education, housing decisions, or the provision of services. It can be demonstrated through comparisons with how others are treated or via statistical evidence. Remedies may involve legal measures, equality plans, or corrective actions by employers, authorities, or institutions to prevent recurrence and promote equal treatment.

Etymology: missgynna means to unfavourably treat or disadvantage; missgynnande is the noun form. The term is often used alongside diskriminering and jämställdhet in policy and legal discussions.