Discrimination and Racism

Introduction

The terms discrimination and racism are sometimes used interchangeably in psychology and other social sciences. However, these two concepts are different in terms of what they mean. Discrimination is generally used to define the unjust treatment of people based on their age, gender, sexual orientation, racial background, national origin, religion, and other characteristics. On its part, racism is a form of discrimination grounded on the idea that human traits and abilities are determined by race. Both racism and discrimination lead to the violation of human rights and dignity (Kite & Whitley, 2016). They subject people to the denial of privileges and opportunities available in the society. Despite this, some scholars and researchers feel that discrimination and racism play an important role in promoting cohesiveness among certain groups (Fields, 2017; Phillips & Jun, 2021). They give such groups a sense of common identity. These different points of view explain why the concepts are among the most controversial issues in the modern society. The current paper is an argumentative essay on racism and discrimination.

Contentious Nature of Racism and Discrimination

Racism and discrimination are touchy issues due to the negative impact associated with them. In most societies, these concepts are deeply ingrained in social, political, as well as economic systems. In such societies, such factors lead to infringement of human rights, and unequal treatment of people based on their backgrounds (Kite & Whitley, 2016). In the United States, discrimination and racism are serious issues that the country has tried to grapple with for many years. The concepts have led to the categorization of people as either being superior or inferior. The white Americans consider themselves to be superior due to their racial background. They use this view to discriminate against the people of color. For instance, the African Americans are in most cases regarded as uncivilized and ‘savage’ people who hold a low position in the society. This affects their self-esteem, and leads to depression. Many of the affected individuals feel as though they are not part of the mainstream American society. Yet they are legal citizens of the country.

In most cases, discrimination and racism affect the way different racial groups in the society relate to each other. These ideas lead to a situation where people do not respect and trust each other due to differences in their backgrounds. Racism distorts individuals’ sense of safety and danger (Richeson 2018). For instance, children in some white American communities are taught to treat the blacks and other people of color as dangerous people in the society. They are instructed not to associate with such people. Due to this socialization and perception, the children grow up fearing the persons of color. Such stereotypes and the associated unjustified fear open the way for hatred and mistreatment of the minority groups by the majority groups. Cases of harassment and maltreatment of the African Americans are common in the United States. Appropriate examples are police harassments that these people are subjected to. Many end up being incarcerated for minor offences that are not supposed to attract imprisonment sentences. The main reason for this is that the African American group is among the most hated minor groups in this society.

It is also important to note that racism and discrimination cause social stratification in the society by justifying inequality in terms of access to resources and opportunities (Kite & Whitley, 2016; Fields, 2017). Some people are denied such privileges due to their racial background, gender, and age and other factors. For instance, many African Americans are discriminated against when it comes to consideration in employment and other opportunities that are available in societies dominated by the white majority. In some cases, the blacks are underpaid despite performing tasks similar to those assigned to the whites. This unfair treatment is one of the main reasons as to why most racial minority groups are poorer compared to the dominant groups. In other instances, people are prevented from enjoying equality and dignity as a result of their gender. This trend is common in patriarchal and some traditional societies where women are discriminated against. In such societies, women are confined to the domestic sphere of influence where they are involved in cooking, cleaning, and performing other house duties. Meanwhile men are allowed to access the public sphere to take prestigious job and participate actively in politics.

Although discrimination and racism are widely regarded as harmful concepts, they are good components to some people. Some scholars argue that both children and adults tend to act positively towards the people that are considered to be members of their own in-group (Phillips & Jun, 2021; Roberts & 2021). In contrast, they feel insecure to those who belong to other groups. This explains why people from outside certain social circles are treated in less favorable ways. For example, it is common for a black person living among the whites to be regarded as an outsider. For this reason, racism and discrimination can be regarded as vital sources of group cohesiveness. On the other hand, these factors are also ssource of conflicts and wars. For instance, racial conflicts are uncommon in multiracial societies around the world. Discrimination as a result of differences in religion and religious faith has been associated with terrorism and other religious conflicts in some countries.

According to other researchers, racism and discrimination play a significant role in organizing people into distinct groups (Kite & Whitley, 2016; Phillips & Jun, 2021). Such factors help to promote group loyalty. By doing so, they enable some people to achieve a common sense of identity. For instance, racial discrimination leads to creation of factions in the society. People tend to align themselves with the factions that are consistent with their racial background. This leads to intergroup competition. The competition in turn results in hardened racist perceptions. In this case, people who belong to a given race tend to consider themselves as members of that race. Those who come from a different race are treated with prejudice. It is these differences that lead to the construction of racial categories in many societies. in as much as this categorization or segregation is harmful to the national unity, it is also useful in enhancing unity among those who share a common social group.

It is also important to note that discrimination and racism gives some people an advantage by raising their social hierarchy (Kite & Whitley, 2016). Such a case is common among dominant groups such as the white Americans. For instance, racism influences the way people think and feel. It makes them behave in ways that are racist. Many people argue that this is not good. However, this many not be the case. It is sometimes normal for people to act this way. However, it is unfortunate that racism causes unnecessary attention in most cases. Cases of people protesting against racism are always reported in the United States and other parts of the world. Whenever this happens, those who are higher in the social hierarchy tend to remain passive. It is those who are at the bottom who always cry out so that they can be heard. However, it does not necessarily mean that they are oppressed.  Some just cry because it is their nature. Even if something bad is not happening to them, they can still stand to complain.

Conclusion

Racism and discrimination are contentious issues in most societies. On the one hand, these factors are considered to be detrimental in the sense that they violate some people’s dignity and human rights. They also deny them the chance of benefiting from certain opportunities that exist in their societies. This is unfortunate given the fact that the world is striving towards the achievement of social equality. On the other hand, discrimination and racism can be regarded as important tools that help to promote cohesiveness in the society. They are essential in fostering common identity among members of the same in-group. People who belong to the same race or any other social group tend to relate well and they support each other. Therefore, even though racism and discrimination are harmful in many ways, it is also important to think about their positive sides. There is need to capitalize on the benefits associated with these concepts.

References:

Fields, A. R. (2017). The Psychology of Racism. Lexington, KY: IAAP Publishing.

Kite, M. E., & Whitley, B. E. (2016). Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination. Erscheinungsort nicht ermittelbar: Taylor and Francis.

Phillips, L. T., & Jun, S. (2021). Why Benefiting from Discrimination is Less Recognized as Discrimination. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000298

Richeson J. A. (2018). The Psychology of Racism: An Introduction to the Special Issue. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27 (3): 148-149. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721418781318

Roberts, S. O., & Rizzo, M. T. (2021). The Psychology of American Racism. American Psychologist, 76 (3): 475–487. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000642

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