Discrimination Essay Research Paper Bevard 1Discrimination Discrimination

Discrimination Essay, Research Paper

Bevard 1Discrimination Discrimination can be expressed in many different ways which are very hurtful and can alsobe very harmful. “Discrimination means acting unfavorably toward a person based on the groupwhich a person belongs instead of on his or her merits” (Gillam 13). “Discrimination, in society canalso be defined as the unfair treatment of equals” (”Discrimination”). Different ways of expressingdiscrimination can be by denying one a job because of his or her race or gender, treating othersunfairly because of his or her race or gender, or verbal and physical assault on one solely because ofhis or her race, religion, or beliefs. These types of discrimination, along with others can impact oneslife tremendously. Discrimination can lead to different things such as quitting a job or often doingsomething harmful to oneself or the aggressor. Prejudice is a negative prejudgement of people of a certain race, religion, or belief due to thestereotypes that society places on these people (”Prejudice”). Prejudice is expressed only by havinga negative attitude towards another person solely because of the stereotypes given to them by societyand not by their own merits. The effects of prejudice are the same as those of discrimination. Although there have been many laws passed which outlaw discrimination, it still occurs in a varietyof ways in an imperfect society. Women are a group who receive a lot of discrimination. They are fighting for the right towork the same job as a man does. In the workplace it is much harder for women with the sameeducation as men to earn the same position (Palmer 43). Most of the time if a woman gets the jobabove the man, she will receive a much lower salary than the man would receive if he had the samejob. “Women earn sixty-nine cents for every dollar earned by an equally educated man” (Gillam45). According to Paula Christian, “Jane Pulliam worked at a computer company for nine years,where she says the discrimination was so bad that it caused her depression, stress, high-bloodpressure, and kidney failure….she alleges her supervisors frequently made remarks such as ‘Do yousee the color of my white shirt. That’s the color of the work force I want.’ ” (B1). Women are alsofaced with sexual harassment, a form of gender discrimination at the workplace Bevard 2(Gillam 40). An employer may hire a woman for a job which she is not capable of because theemployer wants a woman to be there. Often times this leads to sexual advances by the employer orco-workers. According to Scott Gillam, women may hear remarks such as “you’re a woman, whatdo you know.” or “it’s a man’s job” (49). Women also are discriminated against through their rights. Women around the world arefighting for their right to be able to play the same sports as men do. “On April 19, 1966, RobertaGibb became the first woman ever to finish the Boston Marathon after being told that women are notphysiologically able to run 26.2 miles” (Docherty ). Also women are fighting discrimination in thearmed forces. The majority of society believes that war is a place for men and not women. Mostmen in the armed forces do not want women to be in the forces because they believe women willbecome scared and not be able to react in time of war which will cause the loss of many more lives. Age discrimination is mainly aimed toward the older (60+) and younger people in their earlyteens. Many Americans have been fired, forced into retirement, or turned down from a job due totheir age (Lee 48). Older age employees are discriminated against in the workplace because ofappearance and their ability to do the work required is believed to slow (Lee 48). Employers aremore likely to employ a person who is much younger and more attractive than a elderly person. Also, employers want to employ people who are able to do the work that is required. This is anotherway in which older people are discriminated against even though they may be very capable to do thejob. Employers are also more likely to higher a significantly younger person because he or she willwork for less money than an older person will. “Not all age discrimination is aimed at the older group” (Gillam 72). Young people arediscriminated against in many different ways. In some states, children are banned from publicplaces. Employers discriminate against the young people by not hiring them because of thestereotypes that society puts on the youth because of few irresponsible ones. Employers are afraid tohire young people because they feel that young people are irresponsible. However this is Bevard 3not true in all cases. Some young people are mature and show that they are able to handleresponsibility. The homosexual groups and people who are infected with the AIDS virus are one of themost despised and discriminated groups of people in the world (Feugen 3). Although almost half ofAmerica’s population believe homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle, homosexuals and peopleinfected with the AIDS virus still have trouble fitting into society because healthy, heterosexualpeople fear homosexuals or contracting the AIDS virus. Homosexuals and AIDS infected peopleare discriminated against virtually everywhere they go and for everything they do. When employersfind out one of their employees is either homosexual or has AIDS he or she will sometimes be forcedto quit or fired from their job. Although being fired from a job for being homosexual is common, itis not near