Different Forms of Discrimination and Oppression From a Cultural Perspective, Coursework Example

Racial discrimination

This is a story about racial discrimination that was printed on the 8^th of August the year 2013 in the New York Times. This story gives an illustration of how Merrill Lynch one of the renowned brokerage firms found in Wall Street. The firm agreed to pay a sum of 160 million dollars in order to settle a lawsuit on racial bias. The suit was filed on behalf of some 700 black brokers who worked at the organization. This is considered the largest sum of money that has ever been distributed to plaintiffs regarding racial discrimination (Mcgheehan, 2013).

This story depicts racial discrimination because initially before the case was filed, the amount of money that was given to black brokers was less. However, after the organization was sued for racial bias, the amount of money that was given to black brokers increased. One of the reasons attributed to the difficulty experienced by black brokers in the firm was because the chief executive officer was white. The other reason was because most of the prospective clients in the firm were white. It was thought that the white clients would not trust their wealth to black brokers. However, after the lawsuit, Merrill Lynch attempted to look into ways through which it could enhance opportunities for both African-American financial advisers (Mcgheehan, 2013).

Before the filing of the lawsuit, the ratio of black brokers to the white brokers was 1 to 75. This is because the company had a belief that the black brokers were poor producers. The black brokers received little help from the managers and were detested by fellow workers. This unequal treatment is among the factors that compounded their failures (Mcgheehan, 2013).

The impact of this story is that racial discrimination normally increases failure among most people. Merrill Lynch failed to give the black brokers equal opportunity in the firm. The managers did not offer help to the black brokers because of their race. This extended to the co-workers. The increased belief by everyone in the firm that black brokers could not deliver led to their failure. This shows that racial discrimination is a hindrance to development in the society (Mcgheehan, 2013).

Gender discrimination

This story was published on the 9^th of February the year 2013 in the guardian. The story depicts gender discrimination by comparing the pay gap that exists between men and women. The author attributes the wealth gap between genders to unconscious and conscious bias by employers. One of the options given in order to tackle gender discrimination in institutions is the placement of substantive legislation. Despite the existence of gender discrimination in most states of the United States, the author acknowledges that there are reliable moves in New York that will help address issues on gender bias. This is evident from announcements that were received from the governor Andrew Cuomo on the Women’s equality Act. The governor believed that this is a key feature that may help in closing the wage gap. This story supports the existence of gender bias in most institution illustrating that salaried women earn an average of 82% compared to the men’s income. The long-standing pay gap is attributed to the losses incurred by the women because of discriminatory practices (Walshe, 2013).

This story depicts that the fight against gender discrimination starts from the workplace. Both men and women should be given equal opportunities. In order to address such issues advocacy groups such as the wage project should be formed. Such groups are significant in the fight against gender bias because the offer women with advice and resources on their rights. Through such groups, women can be empowered on how to negotiate for better salaries. One of the factors contributing to gender discrimination in the society is the lack of empowerment among women. However, if women are educated on their rights, they will be aware of the legal options they can take in case their employers discriminate upon them on the basis of gender. Every society should work hard to help stop the disempowering of women. The woman’s role should be considered equal to that of the men (Walshe, 2013).

Ageism

This story was published in the new Times on the 23^rd of July the year 2013. The story gives an illustration of ageism, which is discrimination, based on a person’s age. The story reveals the results of an age discrimination study illustrating that, most employees who undergo illegal treatment are persons age between 46 to 65 years. This is because they are nearing the retirement age (Minich, 2013).

The story illustrates that employers discriminate upon such people because they are perceived to be expensive and less valuable compared to the younger replacements. However, it is evident that the Supreme Court imposed prohibitive standards regarding age bias. However, the human rights of the New York City rejected the federal standard illustrating that age is a motivating feature in the employer’s decision. Despite age discrimination according to the employment act of 1967, not preventing the employer from asking the employees their age, this act can be examined as intent to discriminate (Minich, 2013).

This story demonstrates that age discrimination in the society is not good. People should be given equal opportunity despite their ages. It is critical for employers to evaluate their employees based on their capabilities and not their ages. Hiring young employees because of they are affordable is also discrimination. Age should not be a deciding factor when a person is being considered for any position. Instead, people should be evaluated based on their capabilities (Minich, 2013).

Disability

This is a story from the New York Times. It was published in October the year 1996. This is a story about Bob Dole, a republican presidential nominee. He was treated differently because of his physical disability. Dole illustrates that he became a member of a minority group that was dubbed the disabled. This reference was given for the combat wounds they incurred during the Second World War. Dole narrates that he has not forgotten that he is a member of the group. He also wonders what would happen to people with disabilities if they were discriminated against (Seelye, 1996).

The story depicts disability because Dole shows that, in his career, he attempted to elevate the difficulties that were experienced by the disabled. This illustrates that discrimination based on ability existed in the United States. In the story, Tommy Baer argues that discrimination and physical disability cannot be equated. According to him, most disabled people use their disability as a privilege. The other argument by Faye Anderson also illustrates discrimination based on ability. Faye argues that Dole knows the value of the government, meaning that he knows he is not fit for seat (Seelye, 1996).

The arguments presented in this story show that discrimination based on ability exists in the United States. Mr. Dole’s opponents thought that Dole was not fit for the seat because he was disabled. People in most institutions fail to offer the disabled a chance of serving in the various positions. This is because they normally think that the disabled want to be pitied. It is such perceptions that have increased discrimination based on ability. People should consider the disabled people normal in order to end such acts (Seelye, 1996).

Religious diversity

This is a story from the guardian on that was published on the 16^th of January the year 2013. In this story, Nadia Eweida argues that her religious rights were not protected after her employer, the British airways, needed her to conceal a silver cross she was wearing. The story also illustrates how Lilian Ladele’s arguments were rejected by the court after she refused to officiate a civil partnership ceremony. According to Ladele, officiating the ceremony was incompatible with some of the Christian beliefs. Initially Ladele was allowed to swap duties with her colleagues in order to avoid the civil partnerships. However, when her colleagues complained, she was required to undertake the ceremonies. The argument by her employer was that refusing to conduct the ceremonies was refusing to comply with the ‘dignity for all’ policy (Allen, 2013).

An examination of this story reveals that there was religious discrimination for both Nadia and Ladele. For Nadia, it was incorrect for her employer to command her to conceal her silver cross. If wearing the silver cross was part of her religion, then the employer had no right of stopping her. This is because it is not the cross that did the work, but Nadia. Ladele should have also been excluded from officiating the ceremonies if they were against her religion (Allen, 2013).

These stories reveal the existence of religious discrimination in the workplace. The society should stop discrimination against individuals based on religion. Nadia’s case shows that there were employees who could officiate the ceremonies. The employer should have obeyed her religious rights and excluded her from performing the ceremonies. It is critical that the society respects each and every religion (Allen, 2013).

References

Allen, Phyll. (2013). What a religious discrimination ruling means for local government. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2013/jan/16/religious-discrimination-rule-local-government

Mcgheehan, Patrick. (2013). Merrill Lynch in Big Payout for Bias Case. Retrieved from http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/merrill-lynch-in-big-payout-for-bias-case/?_r=0

Minich, Anne. (2013). A Focus on Age Discrimination in the Workplace. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/opinion/a-focus-on-age-discrimination-in-the-workplace.html

Seelye, Katharine. (1996). Dole, Disability and Discrimination. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/01/us/dole-disability-and-discrimination.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Walshe, Sadhbh. (2013). Gender discrimination steals a woman’s future. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/09/women-wage-gap-equality