12. About Discrimination: Part I. What is it? What causes it? How to combat it?

It has always seemed paradoxical to me that in a country like the United States, an amalgam of immigrants, so much discrimination was made against them. Most immigrants have always being without academic preparation, who like the pioneers come to this country looking for an honest job that would allow them to support their families, and to help their children study and grow with better opportunities.

For example in 1910 the «foreign» or non-native Indian population in the States was: 18.5% Germans, 12.4% Austrian-Hungarians, 11.9% Russians, 10% Irish, 10% Italians, 9.3% Scandinavians, 9% Canadians, 6.2% other European countries, 1.4% Asians, and 0.8% other nationalities. Today the US population is even more diverse, yet surprisingly, discrimination seems to be growing in a country made of immigrants and with a Christian majority.

I present next the key ideas I have found on this topic using mostly and for the first time Artificial Intelligence, hence I can not give credit to its sources.

I. What is discrimination?
In general, to discriminate against one or more people is to exclude or treat them differently and unfairly because of their gender, age, religion, physical characteristics, ethnicity, political or other affiliation, or disability. Discrimination negatively affects the lives of people who suffer it, as it usually entails the denial of common rights or opportunities that others have. It is common to observe social exclusion, denial of services or jobs, harassment, mistreatment and even violence received by individuals based on their socioeconomic condition or any other of their characteristics. Among those most likely to suffer discrimination are the disabled, children, indigenous people, pregnant women, LGBTQ+ people, migrants and refugees.

The characteristics of discrimination vary greatly according to the social context and its specific manifestations in particular societies. However, these characteristics usually include:
i. Unequal treatment: of some individuals or social classes compared to the rest.
ii. Segregation: separation of communities, which is done consciously or unconsciously. This results in marginalized communities with lower quality public services.
iii. Prejudices and stereotypes: prejudices result from preconceived ideas that obstruct social coexistence. Stereotypes generalize and simplify the characteristics of a group, leading to negative attitudes toward people in the group.

iv. Violence and ill-treatment: in extreme cases, discrimination leads to acts of physical, verbal or psychological violence against people who are subjected to abuse. This has a significant impact on the physical and mental health of those affected.

There are different types of discrimination, among which we can mention:

1. Age discrimination: especially aimed at children who suffer from abuses of power by adults. It is also suffered by older adults when they are despised by society.
2. Racial or ethnic discrimination: race is not a biologically or anthropologically valid concept among human beings. Thinking that there are groups superior to others implies prejudices and erroneous opinions about people.
3. Gender or sexual discrimination: it is due to the stripping of rights or violence exercised against a person because of their gender or sexual orientation.
4. Discrimination based on nationality: it is discrimination against migrants or foreigners who must endure prejudice. It is a treatment that is often reflected in the exclusion and intolerance of the authorities of the countries receiving the migrant population.
5. Religious discrimination: when the religious practices and customs of minority groups in a society are judged and criticized without legitimate reasons.
6. Political discrimination: censorship directed at the ideology of marginalized individuals or groups.
7. Discrimination based on social position: unequal treatment based on social class or economic status of people.
8. Pregnancy discrimination: it is exercised, usually in silence, by denying employment contracts to pregnant women or women who want to have children. It also happens when pregnant women are denied the benefits of a contract.
9. Disability discrimination: this is discrimination that affects people with physical disabilities, for example, mobility disabilities. It is seen when there is exclusion from activities or the use of services because society has not contemplated how to include people with special needs.
10. Discrimination against indigenous peoples: In several countries in the Americas, members of indigenous peoples face stigmatization and negative stereotypes, which is why they are marginalized and sometimes deprived of their rights.
11. Social discrimination: Social discrimination occurs when a person is treated as inferior. For example, because they belong to a different social class.

What causes discrimination?

The causes of discrimination are diverse. Among the main ones is the lack of knowledge about other cultures and identities. This lack of knowledge can cause fear and rejection towards different people, others.
Another cause of discrimination is generated when certain social groups feel that they may lose privileges. Some families or social classes that have enjoyed special favoritism repudiate equal opportunities because they see it as a threat to their social position.
Finally, inflexible cultural norms can also lead to discriminatory treatment. There are prejudices that have roots in family education and in the social environment that influence how individuals can feel aversion, antipathy, rejection and even hatred towards other people who follow a different lifestyle.
We see that discrimination arises from various social, cultural, historical and psychological factors. In essence, discrimination originates in the human tendency to categorize and differentiate between groups of people. Some of the main factors that explain it are:

1. Fear of the unknown (xenophobia): People tend to distrust or fear what is different or unknown. This fear can lead to discriminatory attitudes towards groups that are perceived as «others«.
2. Power and domination structures: Historically, certain groups have established social hierarchies based on race, gender, class, religion, among other factors, in order to maintain control and privileges. This has fostered systems of systemic discrimination, such as racism, sexism, and classism.
3. Prejudices and stereotypes: Prejudices are preconceived negative attitudes towards a group, while stereotypes are simplistic generalizations. Both are often culturally transmitted and perpetuate discrimination.
4. Ignorance and lack of education: Lack of knowledge about the realities, cultures, and experiences of other groups can lead to misunderstandings, prejudices, and discriminatory attitudes.
5. Evolutionary mechanisms: From an evolutionary perspective, humans developed a sense of belonging to groups as a survival mechanism. This, in turn, may have led to a tendency to exclude or reject those who do not belong to one’s own group.
6. Social and cultural norms: In many societies, cultural norms and values have promoted discrimination by establishing who has «more value» or «more rights» based on characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, among others.
7. Historical conditioning: Historical events, such as colonization, slavery or wars, have perpetuated ideas of superiority or inferiority between human groups, giving rise to discriminatory systems that endure to this day.

After reading the countless ways in which discrimination can occur and the origins of these, it is not easy to conclude that, even without realizing it, we have never discriminated. That is why, all of us who hate to hurt any human being, should read carefully and from time to time the strategies that follow, and if possible, share them with family and friends. Let us remember that avoiding discrimination requires an individual and collective effort that addresses both personal attitudes and social structures.

Key strategies to prevent and combat discrimination
Discrimination is a learned phenomenon and not inherent to human beings, which means that it can be unlearned and counteracted through education, dialogue and the promotion of equality.
I. On a personal level

1. Education and self-awareness: (i) Learn about the prejudices and stereotypes you may have. Recognizing them is the first step to changing them. (ii) Research and understand the experiences and cultures of other groups to combat ignorance.
2. Promotes empathy: i) Actively listens to people from different backgrounds, ii) Tries to understand their perspectives without judging them.
3. Challenge stereotypes: i) Do not generalize or attribute specific characteristics to a group based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or other characteristics, ii) Oppose discriminatory comments or attitudes when you observe them.
4. Promote inclusion: i) Create spaces where all people feel accepted and valued, ii) Support and collaborate with groups that work for equality.

II. At the Family and Community Level

1. Teach values of equality from childhood: i) Educate children in respect for diversity, ii) Encourage critical thinking so that they question discriminatory norms.
2. Organize workshops and activities: i) Promote cultural and educational events that celebrate diversity, ii) Invite the community to dialogue on inclusion issues.
3. Encourages equitable representation: Promotes fair and positive representation in all groups, in the media, schools, and organizations.

III. On a Social and Systemic Level

1. Establishes anti-discrimination laws and policies: i) Supports and demands legal frameworks that punish discrimination and promote equal opportunities, ii) Guarantees the effective application of these laws.
2. Promotes inclusive education: i) Implements curricula that include the history and contributions of historically marginalized groups, ii) Combats bullying and discrimination in schools.
3. Support organizations that work against discrimination: Get involved in social movements, NGOs or initiatives that promote human rights.

4. Monitor and report: i) Report incidents of discrimination and participate in public awareness campaigns, ii) Promote changes in institutions that perpetuate inequalities.

Global Mindset Shift

1. Celebrate diversity: i) Recognize that differences enrich societies, ii) Change the narrative from “tolerance” to “appreciation” for diversity.
2. Promote social justice: Work to reduce the economic, social and educational gaps that are at the root of many forms of discrimination.
   Avoiding discrimination is not only an act of justice, but also a necessary effort to build more inclusive, equitable and peaceful societies.

Avoiding discrimination is not only an act of justice, but also a necessary effort to build more inclusive, equitable and peaceful societies.

Positive discrimination

Positive discrimination was designed in some societies to take action to combat the consequences of discrimination received by certain social groups. Positive measures seek to guarantee good treatment and provide opportunities to historically excluded communities.

An example of this is offering scholarships to young people with limited economic resources. Giving employment to people who have a type of disability, but who can still perform various tasks, among other positive actions.