Editorial Summer 2021
| Date | 01 June 2021 |
| Author | Nicole Busby,Grace James |
| DOI | 10.1177/13582291211017714 |
| Published date | 01 June 2021 |
| Subject Matter | Editorial |
Editorial
Editorial Summer 2021
Welcome to this issue of the International Journal of Discrimination and the Law. The
first two articles in this issue take the higher education sector as the focus for their
analyses of discrimination law in two very different contexts. The two remaining articles
provide a deep consideration of hate crime in Ecuador and a review of legal responses to
xenophobia within the South African labour market respectively.
In her article Alysia Blackham consid ers the potentially discriminatory ef fect on
individual workers of the removal of a mandatory retirement age by drawing on empiri-
cal data from the university sectors in the UK and the USA. She concludes that, despite
its ostensibly neutral stance, the lack of a mandatory age may individualise the risks
arising from demographic facto rs and may also culminate in an increase d focus on
performance management techniques which can in practice impact on the exercise of
individual choice regarding the arrangements surrounding retirement.
Brian Pappas considers the role of Title IX Coordinators who are tasked with enfor-
cing discrimination laws in relation to sexual misconduct within US universities. Using a
range of empirical sources, Pappas shows how coordinators work together through
collaborative networks to overcome a range of obstacles including professional precar-
ity, often hostile working environments and under-resourcing to co-produce the desired
outcomes. He concludes positively by noting how, by forging alliances through a com-
mitment to the achievement of common goals, professionals who operate on the margins
of an institution can increase their professionalisation and legitimacy.
Rocio Elizabeth Vera Santos provides a detailed analysis of the Michael Arce case,
the first case in Ecuador to result in a conviction for hate crime. In considering the
circumstances of the case within its wider legal and cultural contexts, Vera Santos uses
expert interviews and other evidence to explore the normalization of racial stereotypes
and pervasive institutional racism and concludes by assessing how, despite this pioneer-
ing legal action, substantive change is still required in order to prevent and respond
effectively to hate crime in Ecuador.
In his contribution John Mubangizi explores the complex roots and causes of xeno-
phobia within the South African labour market. Mubangizi argues that, despite extensive
reform, the South African legal framework does not go far enough in addressing the
discrimination experienced by workers from outside South Africa on racial and ethnic
grounds. The article concludes with recommendations for reform which, it is argued, are
necessary to better protect migrant workers from discrimination and prejudice.
In addition, we are delighted to bring you the first tw o contributions to our new
section ‘Legislation, Cases and Policy Developments’. Pauline Roberts provides an
International Journalof
Discrimination and theLaw
2021, Vol. 21(2) 75–76
ªThe Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/13582291211017714
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