Discrimination according to Merriam Webster’s dictionary is the process by which two stimuli differing in some aspect are responded to differently[1]. This term was used to represent separation of races during and after the Civil War when African Americans were freed. After the 14th Amendment [1] was put into effect laws started arise that separated races “legally” and this is when discrimination rose. Members of one group are intentionally singled out and treated worse or not given the same opportunities as others because of a group they are categorized under. People started to realize that it was unfair how the races were being treated differently and this lead to the differences in treatment being referred to as discrimination. Over the years many forms of discrimination have come about including racial, gender, and sexual orientation.
History edit
Racial Discrimination edit
In the 1800’s the slaves were freed by President Lincoln. After this starting in about the 1870’s Jim Crow laws were introduced. These laws promoted the idea separate but equal, meaning that the races although having to be in different areas and not allowed to intermingle were equal. The mixing of races was illegal in most places public schools, public transportation and eating establishments [1]. These laws increased discrimination, while the idea was separate but equal the black schools were not as advanced and didn’t have good supplies. Overall the areas where African Americans were designated to do daily activities were always of poorer quality than that of their white counterparts. Discrimination was blatantly done one example of this is in the case of Rosa Parks. In her area of the country it was customary to move to the back of the bus or give up your seat for a white person. Laws like these existed all over America. The court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka made people realize that there was no such thing as separate but equal. By separating races and saying that it was wrong for them to interact showed that they thought something was wrong with one of the races. The Supreme Court decided that separate but equal was no longer necessary in 1954. Racial discrimination was not only used by adults but children as well thought that races should not interact with one another. An example of this is the experiences Ruby Bridges had when she was one of the first black children to be "integrated" into a all white school. While discrimination in America has come a long way , today we still face the problem just in directed at different people.
Fighting Back edit
During this hard time where race became a problem performing even minor daily tasks several people took it upon themselves to fix the system that was holding them down. Figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks [1] are just a few to fight back against the race based discrimination of their era. Rosa Parks took a minor stand it seemed like at the time. She decided not to get up and move to the back of the bus when a white person asked her for her seat. This one incident sparked a huge movement called the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This one act against discrimination eventually leads to the laws on discrimination buses to be changed. Martin Luther King Jr. A peaceful activist lead many protests such as these, proving to the white society that was discriminating against them that they were a valuable part of society as well. King organized many protests that not only blacks but whites also attended. Eventually as was seen with the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka the courts decided that it was a time to end racial discrimination. While King[1] organized peaceful protests Malcolm X went a different route. He and his main supporters The Nation of Islam wanted nothing to do with white people. They can be considered examples of reverse discrimination in this case because they discriminated against whites, the same way whites discriminated against blacks. Even though Malcolm X’s actions were radical he is still considered one of the pioneers in fighting back against racial discrimination.Ruby Bridges is an example of a child who dealt with discrimination. She dealt with parents as well as students constantly verbally abusing her. Most parents took their child out of the class because they didn't want their children near her. But rather than switching back to her old school she persevered and stayed. Eventually the parents sent their children back, accepting the fact that she wasn't leaving. Ruby Bridges showed that people will not accept inequality and they will actively fight back against discrimination no matter what age [2]. These examples show that with determination discrimination can be fought. If the discrimination being faced today was actively fought against the way race based discrimination was, the government would take notice and pass laws to stop the discrimination.
Today edit
Gender Discrimination edit
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Gender discrimination is another form of discrimination on the rise in America today. Despite the fact that Women’s rights movement have come and gone in this country women are still held back in the work place. An example of this is the glass ceiling [1], this is where women and often minorities are held down in the work place never advancing past a certain point. Women are often seen as an expense to their employers because they take days off for children, need time off for maternity leave and are generally speaking “more emotional”. By not putting women in a high position employers won’t have to worry about vital parts of management leaving often or for long periods of time. The theory that goes hand in hand with this is known as the Glass Escalator[1] while women are being held down in male dominated professions, men often rise quickly to positions of authority in fields with mostly women professionals. Men are pushed forward into management positions, even surpassing women who have been at the job longer and with more experience in the field. It seems as though it is preferred to have to teach a man the job, than to have a woman who already knows the job oversee it. This shows that in America there is gender discrimination. Not only in work settings but we see examples of this in our government as well. There has never been a female president and many did not vote for her because she seemed to cold, but when she did show emotion people thought she wouldn’t be able to handle the job. Double standards are consistently applied so that women are held down by discrimination.
Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation edit
One rising type of discrimination is discrimination against homosexuals. For personal reasons employers think it is okay to not hire these people. More and more often homosexual people are attacked and even protested against for living their life. One topic of controversy related to homosexuals is marriage, while some states say it’s okay others have laws against it. Discrimination against homosexuals is just as bad as discrimination against race was. There has been a rise in violence [1] against homosexual people proving that they are being discriminated against. Recently laws have gone into place to protect them and avoid violent protests, as well as hate crimes against them. Discriminating someone because of their sexual orientation is not only wrong but keeps us as a country from moving forward.
Discrimination against Immigrants edit
People who migrate to this country are affected by a totally separate type of discrimination. Some people feel as though the large amounts of people being allowed into the country are cause for alarm, therefore discriminate against them. Looking for someone to blame for an increase in violence immigrants are constantly targeted as bringing crime to America. However if these illegal aliens are in America why would they commit crimes and be sent back [1]. Arizona recently passed a law that forces people to carry documents with them at all times to prove their citizenship. The police are allowed to stop people and then inquire about their legal status in the country. This allows or forces officers to use discrimination, because they will pick and choose who they will ask about citizenship. It is unfair to treat all immigrants like criminals, and create laws to force them to stay away. America was created by immigrants and therefore should be more welcoming. This is only one controversy over immigrants in America, another is that immigrants are stealing “true Americans” jobs. Illegal aliens usually take the hard labor jobs that most Americans don’t want. Rather than discriminating we should praise them because the hard labor jobs that they are doing would not normally be done perhaps at all or as effectively if people who have lived here they’re whole life had to. Discrimination against immigrants like discrimination against sexual orientation is becoming an increasing problem. Violent hate crimes have increased [1] drastically. More laws should be passed protecting immigrants and their families, welcoming the people who want to migrate here rather than passing laws that deter them. Passing of more laws that are similar to the Arizona SB 1070 will only add fuel to the fire. Increasing and encouraging people to discriminate is not the answer, the government should instead update immigration laws and find a way to deter illegal immigration while embracing immigrants who naturalize legally.