Demolishing Discrimination

Each and every day, thousands of people across the planet are discriminated against for reasons such as gender, ethnicity, what they wear and even for what they like to do!

By: Scott Domin

                                        

So, really? What’s the deal people? Inequality or discrimination in general have always been a part of society and unfortunately, always will be. All over the world, normal people are scrutinized and judged by others for petty reasons that don’t truly justify them as a person or their potential.

It’s 2021, and improvements have been made over the years when it comes to discrimination of gender, ethnicity, etc. but let’s face it, there's still much more to be done with-in our own country.

We need to wake up! I'm sure many of you have either experienced, or seen some form of discrimination. Many of us witness what is going on but do not take action to make a difference, including myself. We choose to ignore it and not get involved, regardless of if it’s right in front of your face! It is NOT the right thing to do. My childhood friend I grew up with is African American, and to see how he was being treated with-in our own community helped open my eyes to many of the other social injustices around the world, including what's going on in the United States! I also have a sister who has been affected by the gender gap in the work world. No one should be excluded due to their race. No woman should be underpaid if she can perform the same task as a man. It’s all the same and there are many similar ways we can prevent this as a society. Put your feet in their shoes, people!

As stated previously, there has been much improvement in our country with gender bias. Over time there have been a number of studies regarding this topic in depth. However these rising numbers come with many delays. In an analysis by Paula England, she states, The percentage of women (age 25 to 54) who are employed rose continuously until ∼2000 when it reached its highest point to date of 75%; it was slightly lower at 73% in 2018. Employment and wages for women across the country have risen as a whole but continue to come to a halt. The only way to continue progress in more equalization around the nation is if we all speak up about it. We have come too far as a country to quit now!

The first step to accomplishing our goals is to fully recognize where we are at and the progress that’s been made. We have come a long way whether we realize it or not. Jason Cummings, the author of a study for the Journal Of Happiness Studies states, “My work here also differs from past work on happiness because I examine intersectional patterns in well-being through 2010–2016, demonstrating that women (White women in particular) have again gained their advantage in general happiness over White men”. Due to the solid effort from regular people and groups set out to help this cause, we have seen a lot of improvement these past decades. Overall happiness levels of females in relation to their income have improved tremendously over the years. We are only just a step closer to eliminating gender bias.

According to data from the U.S Conference of Mayors, among American cities with populations of at least 30,000 residents, only 22% had female mayors. The author Trevor Bach mentions this study to give the readers the reality of the situation. To this day, females remain underrepresented in certain areas of politics. This country overall has made drastic improvement with equality but it is issues like this we need to address and solve before moving forward.

Former State Senator, Mark Leno, talks about a well-rounded female politician, "I would describe her as a moral compass and social conscience of the entire Senate, if not the Legislature. Women have proven to be just as hardworking and intelligent as men and some people can recognize that. There is no good reason we shouldn’t incorporate more female politicians into federal politics as they can perform just as well. Over time this will change, but it’s a matter of when!

 

As we all know, you can't change a person. The world today is filled with many stubborn individuals who are too entitled to their own opinion. However If we all start from the roots, and teach our children what is truly right from wrong at a young age, we will be planting the seeds for a more compassionate and tolerant generation. It all begins within our own homes and communities. Treat your neighbor with respect, and speak up before it’s too late!

Hopefully this information will encourage YOU to become more involved, and help you step up to make a change in our society. We need to continue to make strong progress with gender inequality and eliminate these minor setbacks. By doing this we will be making the world a more peaceful and fair place where everyone can feel satisfied and important. This includes all current social injustices and types of discrimination, as the information covered and steps we can take in prevention is all relevant.