Discrimination in America: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

1. Introduction

The problem of discrimination is relevant for many countries nowadays as it is one of the most pressing social issues. It manifests itself in various spheres of human activity: in education, at work, in everyday life. And although over the past decades the situation has improved significantly and the number of incidents has decreased, discrimination has not been eliminated completely.

In this essay, we will focus on a narrower notion of discrimination. It is discrimination in America that has an evident ethnical bias, it is discrimination against foreigners. The problem of such discrimination exists at different levels: interpersonal, institutional, and societal. In other words, foreigners face not only personal attitudes and negative stereotypes but also face some legal and financial barriers.

2. Theoretical framework

There are various approaches to the definition of discrimination. The most common understanding is when someone is treated unequally because of their belonging to a particular group (race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.). In this case, we are talking about direct discrimination when people from a certain group are singled out and treated differently than others solely because of their group membership.

However, there is another type of discrimination that is often referred to as indirect discrimination. It occurs when an apparently neutral rule or practice puts people from a particular group at a disadvantage in comparison with others. For example, a company requires all employees to have a driver’s license which indirectly discriminates against those who cannot afford to buy a car or do not have a driver’s license for other reasons.

Discrimination can also be divided into two more categories: intentional and unintentional. Intentional discrimination is when someone deliberately treats people unequally because of their membership in a particular group. Unintentional discrimination is when people are treated unequally without any deliberate purpose or intent to do so. Both types of discrimination can be just as harmful as each other even though the motives behind them may be different.

3. Measuring Discrimination

There are various ways to measure discriminatory acts and attitudeS toward different groups. One common method is to use surveys which ask people about their personal experiences of being treated unfairly or unfairly profiled by police officers, for example. Another method is to look at statistics on things like income, employment rateS, and housing choices which can reveal disparities between different groups that may be indicative of discriminatory practices or attitudes.

4. Prevalence of Discrimination in America

According to surveys conducted by Pew Research Center in 2017, around four-in-ten adults in America say they have experienced some form of discrimination in their lifetime due to their race or ethnicity. This figure rises to around six-in-ten for black adults and nearly half for Hispanic adults. Asians are less likely to say they have experienced such discrimination (24%). Unsurprisingly, black adults are also more likely than other groups to say they have experienced discrimination in several key arenas of life including at work, when voting, and when applying for loans or credit cards

5. Causes of Discrimination in America

There is no single cause of discrimination; rather it is typically the result of a combination of factors at both an individual and societal levelS. At an individual level, people may hold prejudiced or discriminatory views due to a lack of contact or understanding of people from other groups. This can be the result of things like growing up in a homogeneous community or being exposed to negative stereotypes about other groups in the media.

At a societal level, discrimination can be the result of unequal power relations between different groups. It is often perpetuated by institutional policies or practices that favor one group over another. For example, employers may intentionally or unintentionally discriminate against women by only promoting men to management positions.

6. Consequences of Discrimination in America

Discrimination can have a number of harmful consequences for both individuals and society as a whole. For individuals, it can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It can also lead to poorer physical and mental health as well as reduced life expectancy.

Discrimination can also have wider societal consequences. It can lead to tension and conflict between different groups which can ultimately damage social cohesion. It can also result in economic costs for both individuals and businesses if it prevents people from achieving their full potential or accessing certain goods/services.

7. Combatting Discrimination in America

There are a number of things that can be done at both an individual and societal level to combat discrimination. At an individual level, people can try to become more aware of their own prejudices and challenge their assumptions about other groups. They can also take action if they witness discrimination taking place, for example by speaking out against offensive jokes or intervening if they see someone being harassed.

At a societal level, there is a need for laws and regulations that protect people from discrimination in areas like employment, education, and housing. There is also a need for better data on the prevalence of discrimination so that policymakers can make informed decisions about how to tackle the problem. Finally, there is a need for more public awareness campaigns that highlight the negative impact of discrimination and promote tolerance and respect for all groups.

8. Conclusion

Discrimination is a complex problem that needs to be addressed at both an individual and societal level. IndividualS can play a role in combatting discrimination by becoming more aware of their own prejudices and challenging discriminatory attitudes and behaviorS when they see them taking place. At a societal level, there is a need for laws and regulations that protect people from discrimination as well as better data on the prevalence of discrimination so that policymakers can make informed decisions about how to tackle the problem

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