My Life and How I Perceive Humanity - Essay Example

Anthropology Anthropology My is Khaled, a 25 year old male Muslim from the United Arab Emirates who has resided in the US for about four years. In this paper, I will describe myself in terms of my life and how I perceive humanity and my sentiments towards it. Having stayed in a different country with different people and culture from my motherland, I have learnt the significance of the presumably ambiguous but critical difference between ethnicity and race. Class and wealth as well as gender and sex are other aspects that humanity needs to embrace positively in order to drive out unwarranted discriminations in society. This notion stems from my belief that the human society needs to work towards positive social change, and not just through random factors such as the climate and the presence, or absence, of certain groups of people. Rather, I believe that positive social change must be achieved by systematic factors such as flexible and democratic government, successful development and fair use and distribution of available resources. I strongly believe that ethnicity and race should be considered as dividing factors only as far as their biological factors are concerned. Otherwise, the two should not be used to create divides among humans. An individual’s bodily attributes such as eyes, hair shade and skin color, which are usually consequences of genetic ancestry, define their race. On the other hand, ethnicity is in relation to cultural identities like lingo, descent, beliefs and nationality. Members of the same ethnicity identify with each other based on ancestry of genealogy, whether real or presumed. These differences should be used to enhance and appreciate human diversity rather than act as the basis of discriminating against each other. I believe that no one had a choice in their race or ethnicity and therefore, such natural occurrences should not be used to marginalise anyone. A precedent that I support is that of most nations, including the United States, to officially prohibit discrimination based on race and ethnicity towards the end of the 20th century. Racial prejudice is a hindrance to development even among persons with a common ethnicity. This can be seen by any rational person through what happened during the civil rights movement that pitted African-American citizens against their white counterparts in the civil rights lobby group of the US. On the contrary, I believe that ethnicity ought to be about the customs and behavior we have learnt and celebrating each other’s regionally-diverse traditions. Ethnicity must be the human aspect that gives us the flexibility to embrace and incorporate our customs so that we can identify with the ethnic orientation of new regions that we move to. Conversely, if we stick to identifying fellow humans by race, such flexibility is not possible. We cannot learn or change race naturally, unless by artificial methods like reengineering our physical features; therefore, we must not use the same standard to place fellow human beings. Through the right beliefs and choices, we can alter our ethnicity in order to appreciate others. Basing on my Islamic background, the Quran teaches that humans were divided into ethnic and racial groups in order for them to learn about each other and live in tolerance, brotherhood and peace. The diversities were not created for social conflict. Biological superiority, as presented by race, must not rise above the superiority of being close to one’s creator. I also believe that the wrong understanding of class and wealth is driving the human society further apart, which is not how an ideal society should be. It is an undisputable fact that one needs money to make more money, but it needs more than just money to be truly wealthy. In the world today, people define social class and status in terms of wealth and its associated power. However, my belief is that material wealth alone does not serve the purpose of humans and the service they owe to the community and their creator in the absence of moral wealth. Traditionally, people in the upper class had, and still have, their own ways of life that left out those without money. The predicament with this style of classification is that it even discriminates against people who have newly acquired material wealth. I find it very unfortunate when the elite view the rest of citizens as not being their kind or class simply because they are not financially rich or politically powerful. Understandably, the rich might not always be biased intentionally towards their own class, but they ironically end up hiring people who are able to join in conversations such as the most mentioned vintage of the time. I feel like that is the wrong type of class division, where children of the rich will most likely marry their peers who went to summer holidays with them. Class should not be based on language, interests, mannerisms or elegance. True class and wealth originate from morality and the willingness to share among the unfortunate in the society. In the same sense, a society characterized by equality must not place so much emphasis on sex than gender. Sex is basically a physiological and biological characteristic defining man and woman in terms of external sex organs, hormonal profiles and chromosomes. More significantly, gender is in reference to attributes constructed socially such as behaviors, roles and activities that the society finds appropriate for women and men. Gender is what culturally or socially outlines femininity or masculinity. Sexual aspects, as defined by either male or female categories, may not vary considerably in different societies as may gender aspects as defined by being masculine or feminine. Basing on this, I advocate for gender equality where men and women are allowed to do jobs they are appropriately qualified for and compensated equally. In terms of domestic roles, there is really no rule that stipulates women must be responsible for more housework than men, but I think mutual understanding can sort out the discrepancy among individuals. Conventionally, it is acceptable that women will take care of the home, but sharing responsibilities when possible, especially in keeping up with the modernized world, must also be encouraged. At my age, I believe I am mature enough to say no to gender biases without worrying what the world may think of me. It is only through standing up against vices that society can act on them. Even if I am not directly discriminated against, I believe that those victimized are doing themselves and the society a lot of injustice by not pointing it out. In conclusion, I am an individual that believes in a free and democratic world where everyone is their brother’s keeper. I did not, like everyone else, choose my race, ethnicity, sex or class. However, I, still like everyone one else, can choose to be tolerant and accommodate all of these diverse attributes from fellow humans. So long as our conscience tells us our choices are not selfish but for the good of society, it should not matter what the world thinks about us. Classes exist and always will, and we must appreciate that because we cannot all be the same. However, I believe it is more important to offer equal opportunities of prosperity to all people regardless of their personalities. The differences must be viewed as challenging us to improve ourselves and lead to positive social change. If I am born into a successful family, it is my moral obligation not to look down upon those from poorer families. They also stand equal chances of succeeding in life and achieving more than their parents. That is what the human society must do for each other. Read More