Ever been discriminated against because of your:
Age
Colour
Race
Ethnicity
Religion
Atheistic Beliefs
Gender
Trans Status
Sexuality
Height
Weight
Education
Then sadly you are probably part of the majority...
Most of us will experience discrimination and inequality in all walks of life, from work, education, receiving of goods and services...
As a trade union rep and equality officer I have become aware of what I shall call 'reverse discrimination'. Some would call it 'positive discrimination'. Where does a white, heterosexual male, with no disability fit into a world of quotas? Nowhere. In UNISON we have self organised groups for the LGBT, Black, Disabled, and Women members. We have to fill certain quotas when attending courses, conferences, seminars etc. Our union convenor finds it very hard to get involved in many things as he is not eligible. He is heterosexual, white, male, and has no disability.
I challenge these quotas as they really do fail to address the issues of discrimination and inequality, and only further serve to alienate others.
We need education in schools that focuses on discrimination, work places should be sending employers on courses, especially management. We need to challenge attitudes, and the route causes of discrimination, not 'positively' discriminate...
We need better detection of discrimination, we need a review of legislation, we need to review the education system. We have a long battle ahead, especially as trade unionists, who really do want to tackle inequality in the world, especially within employment.
I was invited to attend a course on dyslexia in the workplace, only to be told a week before the course that I cannot attend as I do not have a disability. I was very disappointed. I could have brought a lot of knowledge back to my employer and the union within my roles concerning health and safety, and equality.
I am attending a seminar on equality in Liverpool next weekend and I hope to find some fresh innovative ideas. Not just ideas about what other groups we can 'positively' discriminate against...
About Me
- Mark Wright
- Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
- Gay & Living In The City
2 comments:
You fix again on a good point Mark, I think neither racism nor positive discrimination are good in society, but I remark that there are two things: one, is equality is not valid, because nothing is equal in the nature, but it can be tolerence and second chance for people, specially on health and education or self developpemnt. Secondly, this famous majority consist of multiple minorities, everyone think that he/she is a bit different or he/she is supposed to be a part of a community. The typical communities are based on religion, sexuality, race and sex(male/female/transgender), but even a person coming from different culture can be frustrated by discrimination. Example. you have a group of your street, then one day there is a new boy recently moved there. He doesn't understand your daily jokes or plays that you invent each other. However, he seems very like you...I think you can see the image, the varieties make difference and each difference make discrimination.
I don't believe anything in nature is unequal. I don't think that is the correct way to look at nature. If I were to argue that lions discriminate between their own kin and gazelles due to a genetic drive, an evolved trait, then I would agree that there are evolved inequalities in nature that are acceptable, tolerable. However if I apply this to humans then I could be accused of justifying eugenics. Which clearly I don't. As we humans have such evolved thoughts, then we need a collective consensus that we are all equal, and not rely on genetic traits to argue and justify a case for inherent inequality. This is very dangerous indeed.
All this aside, variations across humanity whether genetic or developed, should be celebrated and not revered. Differences enrich our lives, not ruin them.
Thank you for your comments Hasan...
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