Humanity is described by the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence – dictionary.com
Being human would mean that each individual clamming that title is gifted with these characteristics.
Each part of the world has different culture, a different way of living and doing things. That’s what makes the beauty of the world.
We’re all different, therefore we have more to learn from each other.
Everybody should be proud of their culture
However, it can happen that sometimes people are way too proud of their cultures and do what we call ethnocentrism. Which is basically the fact to believe that one culture is above the others.
Ethnocentrism is judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one’s own culture.Ethnocentric individuals judge other groups relative to their own ethnic group or culture, especially with concern for language, behavior, customs, and religion. These ethnic distinctions and subdivisions serve to define each ethnicity’s unique cultural identity. Ethnocentrism may be overt or subtle, and while it is considered a natural proclivity of human psychology, it has developed a generally negative connotation. – wikipedia.com
And we’ve seen it in action with discriminations unfold with discriminations.
When we talk about discriminations, more often than not, the one that comes out of everyone’s mouth in the first place (including mine) is, racism. Or in other words, discrimination someone based on his race or country of origin.
Racism is the fruit of fear of the unknown.
It is a plague that has spread over the centuries. It happens more frequently than people would like to admit.
Racism can be described as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. A doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles. Or, as apolitical or social system founded on racism – Merriam Webster
It has been part of the American landscape primarily since the European colonization of North America beginning in the 17th century. Various groups have bore the brunt of it, manifested in discriminatory laws, social practices, and criminal behavior directed toward a target group. The following are a list of just a few and their experiences. – Soundvision.com
Most of the time, the source of all theses discriminations are the communitarianism. Which is basically a philosophy that emphasizes the connection between the individual and the community. Communitarian philosophy is based upon the belief that a person’s social identity and personality are largely molded by community relationships, with a smaller degree of development being placed on individualism.
In other words, those who dare to be different and threaten to derange the peace of the community, are usually discriminated against.
The example of racial discrimination is the one that we sadly witness almost everyday.
It has existed throughout human history, and those experiencing it, are treated like pariah and separated from the crowd, either openly or by minor actions that seem benign.
For example, refusing to sit next to a person of color in the transport.
Or something more violent like, for example, when the Europeans arrived in America and found the Native Americans with the sole idea to conquer the land. Soon enough came the racism and bigotry of the people and it led genocide and mass murders, stolen lands, attempts to wipe out the Native Americans. Europeans believed the original inhabitants of America were heathens and savages who needed to be civilized through Christianity and European culture. Therefore, they tried to take something was never theirs to claim ti begin with, by force. Also, portraying the inhabitants as blood thirsty savages through the media, helped justify the abuses Europeans did to the Native Americans.
Another example, this one is well-known.
Racism against Africans. These people are the descendants of tribes that tribes that were robed of their members. During the 17th century, the colons came to Africa and decided to kidnap them from their countries and enslave them in their own. By the « name of God and christianity » African people were stripped off their names, identities and everything they believed in, and « christianize ».
Whipped, beaten, lynched, and held in chains, they were used as workers for their white master to keep their vast properties.
The irony is that, some women were nannies and basically raised white children, but these children were taught by their parents to hate and look down on them. It happened that a master would rape a black servant, and she would get pregnant. But he would never recognize the child. Why rape me if you think I’m disgusting ?
Black people have been humiliated for centuries on end, and it still hasn’t stopped.
They were sold like simple toys, family were separated through the process.
Although, not all Africans were slaves, some of them were free, but still faced discriminations, discriminatory laws that barred them from owning property and voting, for example, as well as the belief in the intrinsic inferiority of dark-skinned people by the dominant white majority, held them back from full equality in the United States. – Soundvision.com
Or, in public places, they were separated from the others. there were signs specifying « for the use of white/colored people ». They were literally treated like animals. Another specie.
Even after slavery being outlawed, and the passing of laws against discriminations of black americans, they still faced some subliminal discriminations. For example, at work. A black person faces discrimination in one out of five jobs interviews.
So, racism being a fruit of an excess of ethnocentrism, we can (but not really) justify it that way.
However, racism is not the only big issue society faces. Another is using almost the ink in the world.
Sexism.
Sexism, or gender discrimination, is prejudice or discrimination based on a person’s sex or gender. Sexism can affect any gender, but it is particularly documented as affecting women and girls. – Wikipedia
Sexism happens everyday, in the simplest acts, such as, Chivalry. Also known as benevolent sexism, is part of our “manners.
Opening the door for a girl, which is very nice. But I have hands, i can do it you know. And unless you’re my husband, don’t feel the need to go out of your way. Saying « women first » as well. Why ? Why can’t it be « men first » ? Also, a man who opens the door for you, and doesn’t mind when you do the same is one thing. But when he stubbornly refuses to let you even touch the handle « because you’re a woman », there’s the problem.
However, some other examples are more obvious.
Ads on tv, dear God. Can women be more marginalized and objectified ? We’re always shown half-naked or cleaning a house, or looking for a diet. All of that, always with a smile on our faces.
Sexism is basically the result of society refusing to give women the exact same rights as men. Pretexting that because we have a vagina, we’re inferior. Therefore, we can’t be equal.
I’ll admit, a man is may times stronger than a woman, and surely more resistant. But, is a man smarter ? I doubt it
For a long time, we’ve only seen men in the spotlight. For example, the majority of the world’s best athletes are men. Women as disregarded as weaker than men, which might be true in some sense, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t do the same things as them. Have you ever seen Serena Williams ? I think she a pretty good example of a woman who succeeded in a men’s world.
In the workplace as well, for any dollar that a man makes, a woman makes 70 cents. Even if they have the same position. Companies are more likely to promote a man than a woman. That is regardless of the fact that, women’s products are always more expensive, and also a woman spends 75 % of her salary on household groceries. Leaving her with inly 25% for herself. – (realsexism.com)
Double standards are also a form of sexism. If a man has had sexual intercourse with a certain number of women, he’s a stud. If a woman does the same, she’s a slut.
Men have this kind of ability to do whatever they please without being judged, but a woman is so stereotyped, that once she tries to do what she pleases, society gets mad.
The harshest form of sexism, for me, is rape.
You can define rape as the action of a man who believes he’s entitled to anything from a woman he’s flirted with, or a woman he tried to flirt with, but she rejected him. And therefore, when she refuses to go any further with him, he forces himself onto her « because she provoked him with her outfit » and rapes her.
And the cruelest thing, is that, the first question asked to the woman is « what were you wearing ? » as if what she was wearing justifies that someone assaulted, humiliated and marked her for the rest of her life.
I could be walking around naked, you are not entitled to nothing from me. No means no.
But no, with sexism, some think of women as simple sexual toys. And they actually get away with it. Because they actually use it as a way to justify sexism and rape. It’s not up to me to cover myself up, it’s up to the man to understand your boundaries.
However, even some women wearing veils have been raped. So it has nothing to do with my choice of clothing, it all comes down to the man’s mentality and lack of education.
I would like to conclude this rant by saying that, sexism and racism are just some of the things that trouble the peace of our society. But they are also the result of society being a double-edged sword. When you go along with it, everything is fine, but once you step out of line, you get judged and mistreated. However, we’re all humans with just slight differences, depending on where you’re coming from. Those differences shouldn’t affect our humanity, or the way we act towards each other. If ever, it should just bias our opinion. But not hardly enough to create wars. We were all born on the planet, free. Therefore, we should all respect each other, regardless of our opinions on one’s culture, because we are all humans and we all deserve to be treated as such.
Orema 