Building Defenses Against Discrimination

BUILDING DEFENSES AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

WHY SHOULD WE STOP DISCRIMINATION?  

Discrimination is dehumanizing. When you treat someone differently solely based on race, gender, age, etc., you deny the value of who they are as an individual. Discrimination hurts. Whether discrimination is subtle or overt, people know when they are being discriminated against, and it’s painful.

HOW CAN WE STOP DISCRIMINATION? If you wish to join me in taking an active stance against all forms of discrimination, here are some ways you can begin.      

Never again say anything negative or derogatory about anyone as it relates to things outside their control. Be more aware of discrimination. When you witness it, ask yourself if there is anything you can do personally to remedy the situation. Then do it! Be intentional about giving favor to those whom you know are being discriminated against. Say the words and practice the behavior you want children to imitate. As parents and teachers, we have a huge influence on our children and their views. Guard your thoughts and words when with those who make discriminating remarks. Stand up for what’s right. Choose your friends carefully. People who discriminate are not friends of mine. Remember that you are the average of your five closest friends.

 Implement policies that prohibit discrimination in the workplace and school zones. Draft key points that fight discrimination, set them in stone and publicize them to employees and students. Such rules that fight discrimination would include firing, suspending or expelling those that use foul language, discriminatory jokes, name calling and foul body gestures.  Present meeting lectures and invite keynote speakers to talk about the negative short term and long term effects of discrimination in the workplace or school environment. Set yearly or monthly code of conduct meetings for employees to attend.  Join the battle against discrimination though a variety of organizations that fight discrimination together. Many websites and town organizations can be joined to help fight discrimination. Join the organizations that fit your personality best

WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO AVOID DISCRIMINATION? Avoiding Social Discrimination 1. Think about the jokes you want to tell carefully before you say them. Humor can lighten the mood, but it is often taken at another’s expense. Many jokes degrade women, ethnicities and disabled people. 2. Learn another language, or be open to accepting that most countries have citizens who speak dozens, if not hundreds of languages. Promoting language education, rather than fighting it, can decrease discrimination based on ethnicity. 3. Fight gender stereotypes in the home. Thinking of things as “women’s work” or “man’s work” may lead to gender discrimination in the next generation. As more and more families become dual-income households, make sure both sexes are treated as partners. 4. Socialize with people outside your comfort zone. Join a club, group or team where you have contact with people of different gender, sexuality or race. People often get into routines where they aren’t exposed to diversity in the community. 5. Be open to learning about other religions. Although you might be devout, a little research can help you find the common ground between another faith and your own. The next time someone makes a religious slur, talk about the commonalities, rather than the differences. 6. Request that clubs or groups that you join adopt a policy of “equal opportunity” to people of different genders, sexualities, races and physical health. Starting a conversation about creating an open group may avoid issues based on these topics in the future. Avoiding Discrimination at Work 1. Develop a set of qualifications and prerequisites before you start hiring for a job. Judge the candidates based on these professional parameters. If you fear a colleague is discriminating in their choices, ask for a third party to judge the candidates without seeing their names or faces. 2. Don’t ask for additional documents related to work history just because someone appears foreign or “ethnic.” Requiring a person who isn’t Caucasian to give you extra immigration or citizenship papers is discrimination, unless you ask for this paperwork as a matter of policy for all applicants.[ 3. Look around at your work force. If you like in a diverse population but your employees are all from the same race, you may be inadvertently promoting hiring practices based on discrimination.

4. Develop a clear harassment and discrimination policy at work. Post it in a common location and add it to your employee handbook. Place a human resources manager in charge of complaints 5. Provide yearly staff training on discrimination or harassment. Make it clear that there is a zero tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination. Announce how complaints and disciplinary action will be handled. 6. Keep a diary of all discrimination claims and how they were handled. You can protect yourself and your employees by noting each interaction. 7. Take steps to ensure that your locations are accessible to the disabled.Installing a ramp at a retail location or installing a sit/stand desk for an employee with a chronic back problem helps you avoid disability discrimination.