Discrimination and Oppression From a Cultural Perspective, Coursework Example

Ethnicity

The story on the Boston bombings and the media coverage gives an illustration of ethnicity as a form of discrimination that is prevalent in the society to date. This is a story from the Dissenter that was reported in on the 19^th of April the year 2013. It gives an illustration of how the uncle of the two brothers, who were involved in the bombing, gave a press conference concerning the event, but was cut off by the reporters. Mr. Tsarni the uncle of the two boys stated that the boys had put their family to shame and the entire Chechen ethnicity. This is because most people associated the attacks to the Chechen society (Gotzola, 2013).

From Mr. Tsarni statement, he stated that he knew the media would begin associating the Chechens with the terrorism. Meaning the Chechens would be required to answer why people of their origin would commit such violence. According to him, he stated that most people associate such attacks to ethnicity. In associating the Chechens with the attack, the article reveals that Islamic Movements such as Uzbekistan and the Islamic Jihad Union are among ethnic groups that have recruited Chechen fighters. The story further reveals that the groups are associated in a tribal area of Pakistan known as Waziristan (Gotzola, 2013).

An analysis of this event with the course material shows some of the problems in the society have been caused by discrimination in the form of ethnicity. From the story, it is clear that ethnicity leads to ethnic conflicts. Such differences cause people not to live in unity. For instance, Mr.Tsarni reveals that one of his fears was that the Chechen would be blamed for the terrorism. Ethnic differences if not solved will lead to the division of states. When states are divided, there will be no viable solution most of the conflicts facing the world today. Ethnic differences should be addressed for people to live peacefully with each other (Chin, 2010).

Gender

This is a story about Sonia Sotomayor and her senate confirmation hearings. The story is from the website about.com. The article reveals that since president Obama nominated her there have been nasty statements concerning her. These include talks concerning her cultural heritage, her educational background and her gender. The article gives an illustration of some of the clips that were compiled by the Women’s Media Center, which give an illustration of sexist and racist statements that were made by a host of reporters from fox news (Lowen, 2009).

The article condemns the act and reveals that gender discrimination is likely to continue in such societies if such media coverage is not controlled. The article shows that Women’s media Center asked for media justice on behalf of Sonia Sotomayor. This is in an attempt to provide ways for the voices of women to be heard. The article shows that there were pleas from the Women’s Media Center on the media to refrain from racist and sexist remarks (Lowen, 2009).

An analysis of this event shows the existence of gender bias in the political arena. However, it also shows some of the bodies that have been formed in an attempt to address such issues as discrimination based on gender. For instance, in the article, there is the Women’s Media Center that came out to fight on behalf of Sonia. It also shows how the media can increase or help address the issue of gender bias. The impact of this story is that everybody in the society has the responsibility of addressing the issue on gender discrimination. It is through combined efforts that the problem will be solved. The story reveals that gender bias in the work place should be stopped because the women can also handle the roles that can be handled by the men (Chin, 2010).

Economic status

The article from forbes.com shows how poor students have been victims of college discrimination because of their economic status. The story shows that U.S Supreme Court is yet to decide whether affirmative action should be banned in U.S universities. The story shows that income has become the determining factor in most institution of higher learning the United States. Most qualified high school students cannot attend college because the admission systems screened them out or because they cannot afford the fees. The story uses statistics to compare the number of students from poor and rich families who graduate from the university. It is evident that a majority of students from the top income quartile graduate as opposed to those from the bottom quartile families. This shows that economic disparities hinder some students the opportunity to learn (Fischer, 2012).

An analysis of this event shows that economic disparity is an issue that should be addressed because it can affect a country’s economy. This is because preventing a bright child from a poor background from accessing higher education is likely to increase the population of the poor in any country. It is by offering the same chance to individuals of different classes that a country can change its economy (Fischer, 2012).

The impact of this story is that discrimination based on economic status does not help in building the society. Discrimination based on status is also an issue that should be addressed just as other forms of discrimination. For instance, institutions of higher learning should give the poor students equal opportunity to access education. This can help change their status in the society (Chin, 2010).

Disability

This is an article from the wheelercenter.com. The article reveals a parent’s story of discrimination in one of the schools in Australia. This story shows that despite efforts to away with discrimination based on disability it still exists in the modern world. The article gives an encounter of a parent whose daughter suffered from Down syndrome. These parents give their encounter when they went for an open night at a high school, which was located in the suburbs of Melbourne. From the story, it is evident that the school did not admit children with disability unless they had the money. This shows that students with disability were not considered as part of the community instead they were seen as a drain on the school’s resources (Deane, 2013).

An analysis of this event with references from course material shows that most people with disabilities are bystanders to discrimination even in developed countries. This article depicts that despite there being blatant forms of discrimination, there are subtle forms of discrimination and everybody in the society needs to take a stand for them. This means that everybody has the responsibility of protecting an individual with disability against discrimination (Deane, 2013).

This story shows that, despite assumptions that discrimination based on disability no longer exists in most institutions, it is an issue that needs to be addressed. People who discriminate against disabled persons should be aware of their own biases before taking stands for others. When people own and become responsible for their behaviors towards the disabled, then discrimination based on disability can be solved (Chin, 2010).

Spiritual diversity

This is a story illustrating how catholic pilgrims in Glastonbury attacked pagans. The article shows that in the past, Catholics launched attacks against non-Catholics. However, it is something that is rare in the modern world. This article gives an illustration using a story from the guardian. Maya Pinder narrates that there were instances when they would have salt thrown at them in the name of cleansing the Glastonbury of paganism. This story illustrates how catholic pilgrims in Glastonbury attacked pagans in the name of cleansing them from the town. This is as is a story that was reported by the Guardian in November the year 2006. The local pagans were branded as witches, and they were told they would burn in hell this was done by a conservative catholic lay group. One of the victims illustrated that returning to the dark ages was something that would be damaging to Glastonbury. The victim illustrated that an attempt to take way the pagan element would make Glastonbury dead town (Shaikh, 2006).

An analysis of this event with other sources reveals that this is religious discrimination since it involved the treatment of the pagans differently because of what they believed in. Religious discrimination has been considered the most violent form of discrimination in history. This is because people use religion as a reason to commit violent acts against people of other faiths.  Religious discrimination should not be considered as a thing of the past as it happens even in the modern world (Shaikh, 2006).

Religious discrimination is wrong. One way through which people can address the issue on religious discrimination is by talking to people of other faiths and learning more concerning other religions. An understanding why every religion has a place in the world can also help in addressing the issue on religious discrimination. To address this issue people should be tolerant, understanding and they should accept one another (Shaikh, 2006).

References

Chin, J. L. (2010). The psychology of prejudice and discrimination. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger.

Deane, Joel. (2013). Shutting Them Out: One Parent’s Story of Disability, Discrimination and Our Schools. Retrieved from http://wheelercentre.com/dailies/post/968ab248d6a1/

Fischer, Daniels. (2012). Poor students are Real victims of College discrimination. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2012/05/02/poor-students-are-the-real-victims-of-college-discrimination/

Gotzola Kevin. (2013). Media covering Boston Bombing will be Partly responsible if Shame is put on Ethnicity of Chechens. Retrieved from http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2013/04/19/media-covering-boston-bombings-will-be-partly-responsible-if-shame-is-put-on-ethnicity-of-chechens/

Lowen, Linda. (2009). Racist and Sexist Coverage of Sotomayor Precedes Her Senate Confirmation Hearings. Retrieved from http://womensissues.about.com/b/2009/07/13/racist-and-sexist-coverage-of-sotomayor-precedes-her-senate-confirmation-hearings.htm

Shaikh, Thair. (2006). Catholic marchers turn on Glastonbury pagans. http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/nov/04/religion.world