Sex Discrimination Act 1975

1975 c.65 · 123 provisions

An Act to render unlawful certain kinds of sex discrimination and discrimination on the ground of marriage, and establish a Commission with the function of working towards the elimination of such discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity between men and women generally; and for related purposes.

Part I: Discrimination to Which Act Applies

Section 1: Direct and indirect discrimination against womenRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 2: Sex discrimination against men.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 2A: “Discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment.”Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 3: Discrimination against married persons and civil partners in employment fieldRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 3A: Discrimination on the ground of pregnancy or maternity leaveRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 3B: Discrimination on the ground of pregnancy or maternity: goods, facilities, services or premisesRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 4: Discrimination by way of victimisation.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 4A: Harassment, including sexual harassmentRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 5: Interpretation.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part II: EMPLOYMENT FIELD

Section 6: . . . applicants and employees.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 6A: Exception relating to terms and conditions during maternity leaveRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 7: Exception where sex is a genuine occupational qualification.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 7A: “Corresponding exception relating to gender reassignment.”Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 7B: “Supplementary exceptions relating to gender reassignment.”Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 8: Equal Pay Act 1970.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 9: . . . contract workers.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 10: Meaning of employment at establishment in Great Britain.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 10A: Offices and posts to which section 10B appliesRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 10B: Office-holdersRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 11: Partnerships.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 12: Trade unions etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 13: Qualifying bodies.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 14: Persons concerned with provision of vocational training.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 15: Employment agencies.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 16: Manpower Services Commission etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 17: Police.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 18: Prison officers.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 19: Ministers of religion etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 20: Midwives.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 20A: Relationships which have come to an endRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 21: Mineworkers.Repealed (repealed 2003-07-19)
Section 21A: Public authoritiesRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part III: Discrimination in Other Fields

Section 22: . . . Bodies in charge of educational establishments.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 22A: Meaning of pupil in section 22.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 23: Other discrimination by local education authorities.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 23A: Discrimination by further and higher education funding bodiesRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 23B: Discrimination by Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils.Repealed (repealed 2005-10-03)
Section 23BA: Discrimination by Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding CouncilRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 23C: Discrimination by Funding Agency for Schools or Schools Funding Council for Wales.Repealed (repealed 1999-09-01)
Section 23D: Discrimination by Training and Development Agency for Schools.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 24: Designated establishments.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 25: General duty in public sector of education.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 25A: General duty: post-16 education and training etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 26: Exception for single-sex establishments.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 27: Exception for single-sex establishments turning co-educational.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 28: Exception for physical training.Repealed (repealed 2005-10-01)
Section 29: Discrimination in provision of goods, facilities or services.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 30: Discrimination in disposal or management of premises.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 31: Discrimination: consent for assignment or sub-letting.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 32: Exception for small dwellings.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 33: Exception for political parties.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 34: Exception for voluntary bodies.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 35: Further exceptions from ss. 29(1) and 30.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 35A: . . . Barristers.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 35B: . . . Advocates.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 35C: Relationships which have come to an endRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 35ZA: Excluded mattersRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 36: Extent of Part III.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part IV: Other Unlawful Acts

Section 37: Discriminatory practices.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 38: Discriminatory advertisements.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 39: Instructions to discriminate.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 40: Pressure to discriminate.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 41: Liability of employers and principals.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 42: Aiding unlawful acts.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part V: General Exceptions from Parts II to IV

Section 42A: Selection of candidatesRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 43: Charities.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 44: Sport etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 45: Insurance etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 46: Communal accommodation.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 47: Discriminatory training by certain bodies.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 48: Other discriminatory training etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 49: Trade unions etc.: elective bodies.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 50: Indirect access to benefits etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 51: Acts done for purposes of protection of women.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 51A: Acts done under statutory authority to be exempt from certain provisions of Part III.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 52: Acts safeguarding national security.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 52A: Construction of references to vocational training.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part VI: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 53: Establishment and duties of Commission.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 54: Research and education.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 55: Review of discriminatory provisions in health and safety legislation.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 56: Review of discriminatory provisions in health and safety legislation.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 56A: Codes of practice.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 57: Power to conduct formal investigations.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 58: Terms of reference.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 59: Power to obtain information.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 60: Recommendations and reports on formal investigations.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 61: Restriction on disclosure of information.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part VII: Enforcement

Section 62: Restriction of proceedings for breach of Act.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 63: Jurisdiction of employment tribunals.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 63A: Burden of proof: employment tribunalsRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 64: Conciliation in employment casesRepealed (repealed 1996-08-22)
Section 65: Remedies on complaint under section 63.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 66: Claims under Part III.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 66A: Burden of proof: county and sheriff courtsRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 66B: National securityRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 67: Issue of non-discrimination notice.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 68: Appeal against non-discrimination notice.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 69: Investigation as to compliance with non-discrimination notice.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 70: Register of non-discrimination notices.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 71: Persistent discrimination.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 72: Enforcement of ss. 38 to 40.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 73: Preliminary action in employment cases.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 74: Help for aggrieved persons in obtaining information etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 75: Assistance by Commission.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 76: Period within which proceedings to be brought.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part VIII: Supplemental

Section 76A: Public authorities: general statutory dutyRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 76B: Specific dutiesRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 76C: Specific duties: ScotlandRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 76D: Specific duties: enforcementRepealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 76E: Codes of practiceRepealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 77: Validity and revision of contracts.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 78: Educational charities in England and Wales.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 79: Educational endowments etc. to which Part VI of the Education (Scotland) Act 1962 applies.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 80: Power to amend certain provisions of Act.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 81: Orders.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 82: General interpretation provisions.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 83: Transitional and commencement provisions, amendments and repeals.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 84: Financial provisions.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 85: Application to Crown.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 85A: Application to House of Commons staff.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 85B: Application to House of Lords staff.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 86: Government appointments outside section 6.Repealed (repealed 2005-10-01)
Section 87: Short title and extent.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.