Diversity and Discrimination

 

Diversity

"Diversity" means, and how different factors like the history and geography of a place contribute to its uniqueness.

Diversity has both positive and negative outcomes

1. Positive outcomes include mixing of cultures, learning new things, and becoming more tolerant of differences
2.  Negative outcome - discrimination.

 

In simple terms, discrimination is being partial against a person or a group of people because of their gender, skin colour, religion, nationality, or culture.

Examples  

1. Discrimination can be when children tease their peers who have a darker skin tone, and consider it as ugly.
2. People who cannot speak English fluently are considered less intelligent or less educated by people who can. 

When we form such negative opinions about people just because they are different from us, we are said to be prejudiced against them.

 

PREJUDICE

Prejudice – “Developing a dislike for people or seeing people as inferior because they are different from each other.”

To tease someone just because he only eats rice and not roti is unreasonable and unjust to that person. So is considering people inferior just because they pronounce certain English words differently than us.

Giving preference to one group over another without any reason is also prejudice.

Besides complexion and language, there are many other things about which we can form a negative opinion:

The clothes people wear, their religious beliefs, their food, the region they belong to, etc.

 

STEREOTYPES

A stereotype refers to a fixed image of people or a group on the basis of their religion, occupation, sex, wealth, language, etc.

If we say that women are good only at household work, we are creating a stereotype. This is because women are good/capable in many other kinds of work also. Some may work as doctors, teachers, vegetable hawkers, etc., while some may not work at all.Therefore, to say, women can only do housework is being unfair to them. It creates a fixed image in our minds, which is often not true.

 

When we stereotype people, we begin associating an entire group of people with one image or quality. For example, if we say all tribals are uneducated, poor, dirty, and unintelligent, or all foreigners are beautiful, tall, and rich, we are stereotyping them.

This stereotyping can prevent people from doing things they want to. It can affect what they think about themselves and others. It can even influence the occupations they choose. For example, boys are usually brought up to believe they are superior to girls.  They are even discouraged from choosing occupations like nursing, dancing, etc., because traditionally these occupations were followed by girls.

 

STEREOTYPES ON THE BASIS OF GENDER

Gender often forms the basis for stereotypes.

Young girls and boys are given different kinds of toys to play with. Girls are usually given dolls, while boys are encouraged to play with tanks and action figures.

Girls are told to choose pink colour while blue for boys.

Girls are expected to be soft and meek, while boys are expected to be tough and strong.

These are not qualities that girls and boys are born with. Rather, these are stereotypes they are expected to fit into gender stereotype

 

 

STEREOTYPES ON THE BASIS OF REGION, RACE, OR RELIGION

Sometimes, people form a particular image about others just because they follow a different religion or belong to a different race. Sometimes, people generalize views or judge others based on the region in which they live, the religion they follow or the race they belong to.

 

For example, people living in the northeastern region of India have been stereotyped for their looks. Their facial looks are little different from people of other states. People often gaze at them and consider them "different" from the rest of the country. This type of stereotype is unfavorable and must be curbed by creating awareness among people.

 

Sometimes people even associate one particular group of people or community with crime or violence. At other times, people label others belonging to a particular country, race, religion, gender, or economic background as lazy, dumb, or miserly.

 

Such stereotypes are rather unfair. All communities and countries have people who have such qualities. It does not mean everyone in their community or country is like them.

 

 

DISCRIMINATION

Discrimination is said to take place when people act on the basis of their prejudices or stereotypes.

Discrimination can be practised in many ways

·        people may exclude certain people from participating in activities

·        They may prevent them from taking up certain occupations

·        They may bar them from living in some areas

·        They may have problems travelling with them, or sharing food, or drink with them, etc.

 

REASONS FOR DISCRIMINATION -

DIVERSITY AND INEQUALITY

Both diversity and inequality can be reasons for discrimination.

 

1. People can be discriminated against because of what makes them diverse.  

Aspects of diversity- such as religion, region, customs, gender, etc., often form the basis for discrimination For example, Indian women have been struggling against discrimination since independence, especially in the field of education. There is a wide gap between girls and boys even today when it comes to education. This is simply because education of girls is not considered important by many people. They feel the role of women is restricted to taking care of their families.

 

2. People may also be discriminated against because of their economic background or caste People who are poor are often treated badly. They lack the resources to meet their basic needs and often cannot afford to send their children to schools and get good jobs. They often end up being exploited due to their low economic status and are made to accept poor pay for work.

 

3. Often communities can be excluded from society because of their diversity as well as economic status. For example, tribals have faced a lot of discrimination in Indian society because they followed different social and religious customs, and spoke different languages which were not valued by other people in the society. Also, they were often quite poor. Similarly, there have been many regional and religious groups who have been discriminated against not just because they are different, but also because they are poor.

 

 

STRIVING FOR EQUALITY

At the time of independence, many groups were fighting against discrimination and demanding an equal status in society. Poor people, women and peasants were fighting against the inequalities they faced in their lives. They wanted to have equal rights.

 

Indian leaders were also concerned with the inequalities that existed in our society at that time. They considered equality and respect for diversity as necessary conditions for ensuring unity of our people. So they formulated some rules to ensure all people would be treated equally, in independent India. These provisions have been included in our Constitution.

 

 

CONSTITUTION AND EQUALITY

The Constitution bans 'untouchability' in all its forms. The practice of 'untouchability' has been made a punishable offence under the Act of 1955.

 

Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination on any ground religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. It is this Article that guarantees no citizen can be prohibited from entering public places. Anyone can go to public places like a temple, playground, market, etc.

 

 

The Constitution guarantees all Indian citizens the right to equality. As per the Constitution, all laws apply equally to all Indians irrespective of their religion, economic status, etc. It provides equal rights and opportunities to all Indians.

 

People are free to choose their occupations irrespective of their gender, religion, etc.

 

Anyone can apply for a government job. It also lays down equal pay for equal work The Constitution also makes it the government's job to ensure equality to all sections of the society.

 

It gives the government the power to take decisions to uplift socially and economically weaker or backward sections of society through schemes or policies such as reservation of seats in legislatures, government jobs, or educational institutions.

 

Article 46 of the Constitution states, 'The states shall promote with special care, the educational and economic interest of the weaker sections of the people, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.'

 

 

CONSTITUTION AND DIVERSITY

The Constitution says, India is a secular country where all religions are considered equal. It does not promote any one religion or language.

The Indian Constitution also ensures respect for diversity by giving people the right to practice their religion freely, speak their language, and celebrate their festivals without any fear of discrimination.

It also gives everyone the right to speak freely. These are part of Fundamental Rights, which are guaranteed by the Constitution to all Indians.

 

 

INEQUALITY STILL EXISTS

 

Although the provisions in our Constitution strive for social and economic equality, not all Indians enjoy equal status even today. Many people like Dalits, tribals, economically poor people still face social discrimination.

Discrimination against women also remains an area of concern.

A majority of Indians are still quite poor and made to work for low wages.

Sometimes, women and poor are even paid less than others for doing the same amount of work.

Equality and respect for diversity is key to our unity. Therefore, it is important for people and the government to constantly work towards creating an equal society.