Valuing Diversity & Discrimination - Assignment Example

Valuing Diversity & Discrimination Table of Contents Task 1 Report 2 Introduction 2 Explanation and Examples of Different Types of Discrimination 3 a)Overt Discrimination 3 b)Covert Discrimination 3 c)Institutional Discrimination 4 Explanation and Examples of Discrimination Using Two Theories 5 Social learning Theory 5 Black Sheep Theory 5 Task 2 - Case Study 5 a) Explanation of Different Bases of Discrimination 6 b) Analysis of Statistics 8 c)Ways to Counteract Discrimination 9 Task 4 Report 9 Introduction 9 Role of Language in Social Interaction and Discrimination 10 a)Explanation about How Individuals in Organisations Can Discriminate Through Language 11 b)Discussion about the Way of Language 11 Conclusion 12 References 13 Task 1 Report Introduction From a theoretical perspective, discrimination denotes making a difference or giving more preference to others. Discrimination is present in almost every society. It is seen in societal framework, which exhibits diversity in its culture. It reflects biased psychology of people’s mindset. Tracing to the past, historical fact reveals the picture of discrimination present in all aspects of life, with respect to the people from weaker sections of the society, caste, race, sex and other related attributes. In this era of science and technology, discrimination has stretched its hand in diverse aspects of life mainly in the conglomeration of culture wherein people of different ethnic groups remain present (Rudiger & Spencer, 2003). Explanation and Examples of Different Types of Discrimination a) Overt Discrimination Overt discrimination denotes a situation wherein discrimination seems to be public as well as clear. In precise, it can be affirmed that creating constraints to a person with an intention to prevent from the conduct of any work is one of the attributes of overt discrimination. The people mostly in workplace face this sort of discrimination. In past, practice of overt discrimination was in a paramount phase, however, in modern times, with the increasing level of exposure of talents, this sort of discrimination has become much prominent in the workplace as well as in the societies (Craig, 2007). One of the examples of overt discrimination can be reckoned as rejecting the application of a job seeker based on the grounds of race and caste (Benokraitis & Feagin, 1986). b) Covert Discrimination Covert discrimination is opposite to overt discrimination. In this kind, discrimination remains hidden and is very tough to view and identify. It is a type of indirect discrimination and person who is suffering from it cannot apprehend the reason of being rejected from work or subjected to discrimination (Victorian Equal Opportunity and Equal Rights Commission, 2015). An example of covert discrimination can be related to the situation of application of job made by two candidates who possess same eligibility, but the person belonging to ethnic group gets rejected because of skin colour and race. Specially mentioning, feminist theory provides more example of covert discrimination. In the underdeveloped countries, discrimination in women is at the peak level. In all fields, women have to compromise together in private and professional work (Anderson & Taylor, 2007). c) Institutional Discrimination Institutional discrimination is featured as an underestimation of individual or group in a specific workplace. It is deeper than covert discrimination. Initially, the individuals or a group faced this kind of discrimination along with the government sector based employees, as privatization was not prevalent in earlier times. It is present in wholesome amount in the usual working affairs of the institutions (Freeman, 1970). This type of discrimination i.e. institutional discrimination is sculptured in the rules, policies, goals and objectives of the organisations. Ill-treating an employee in the organisations or treating that employee with an intentional mind to evict him or her from employment is reckoned to be the example of such kind of discrimination (Boundless, 2015). Explanation and Examples of Discrimination Using Two Theories Social learning Theory Social learning theory provides a framework to analyse all types of discrimination especially relating to the domain of organisational behaviour and understanding several aspects of developing society along with prejudice (Kite & Whitely, 2009). Discrimination denies access to the right of a person or group who may belong to ethnic group, lower caste, racist, women and other attributed factors. To trace discrimination in a workplace, it is necessary to understand the psychology of the employers or the top-level management. ‘Social psychological theory’ focuses on the individuals or the groups’ beliefs, behaviours and values (Brent & Lewis, 2013). Black Sheep Theory Social theory is often based on inter or intra group differentiation between the members. Thus, in-group effect is the basis of black sheep theory. Black sheep theory traces on the preferences within a group. For example, ‘group dynamics’ explain this phenomenon and proposes differentiation between the group mates and marks their favouritism within such group (Pinto & et. al., 2009). Task 2 - Case Study Students in classroom often form a group and thus remains detached with others maintaining status quo. This sense of maintaining class in school ventilates the sense of upper class and lower class standards in the society (Kite, 2013). Based on the case study provided, it can be apparently observed that the children within the classroom are staying in segregated groups based on their respective gender as well as race. Thus, an attempt has been made to explain the above persisted discrimination in the classroom with elaborating different bases. a) Explanation of Different Bases of Discrimination Race Discrimination based on race means showing indifferent behaviours to individuals or a group belonging to same race. By using the provide case study, it can be inferred that in schools, students often get segregated based on race, which can be measured in the form of having black skin colour and eventually gets treated unfavourably. Though this kind of discrimination was practiced in past in the Western society, now its prominence is gradually declining. Nevertheless, this kind of discrimination creates emotional trauma in the students’ mind frame, which interferes in their study in a negative way (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, n.d.). Gender Gender based discrimination directly violates civil rights. Earlier scenes revealed that women were paid less in comparison with men doing the same task. Gender discrimination amongst the students is very offensive to hear. Grouping because of gender in academic field is annoying and absurd to visualise. Approving fewer shares for women athletics or paying less attention to female teachers are the instances that reflect gender discrimination (Find Law, 2015). Age Age based discrimination in the academic field is very common. The seniors try to establish their marks in school and do not allow juniors to take part in any activity in the schools. Juniors in the schools thus have strong grievance for their seniors, as they do not allow them to perform anything. On the contrary, they tend to dominate and ask the juniors to do tasks that are unsuited to their age and strength (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, n.d.). Physical Ability It is evident that not all people born fit who may suffer from physical infirmity. In certain cases, societies must remain sympathetic towards them and likewise teach their next generation to treat physically challenged people in a sympathetic way. In relation to education domain, the students may appear from physically challenged ground, however treating them unfavourably is truly embarrassment to humanity (Disabled World, 2015). Cognitive Ability It is eminent to state that not every people possess same level of intellectual level. Therefore, a person must not be judged based on intellectual quest. Cognitive ability based discrimination is a serious remark to the person who lacks intellectual power. Students possessing low score in this regard often become truly irrational (Bellot, 2011). Sexual Orientation Sexual orientation includes individuals being treated differently and unfavourably because of having preferences in orientation of sex that may entail gay, heterosexual, lesbian or bisexual. This kind of activity is solely illegal, as it conveys different messages to the societies and disturbs the academic atmosphere. Federal law also restricts this kind of activity and therefore discrimination based on it is deemed to be truly embarrassment to humanity (Bellot, 2011). b) Analysis of Statistics Based on the activities allotted to the students in an education setting, it can be ascertained that every student desires to get recognised in the society or in the field wherein they remain present. Findings amongst the students based on the case study revealed that students must be motivated to earn good frame in school. Therefore, they must stay linked with such groups that will fetch them the same. However, in this regard, certain student may feel disconnected, ignored and hurt by the attitudes of other students. Therefore, by conducting this activity i.e. activity allocation, the students can come across the feelings of those who faced severe problems by having groupism. This type of activity helps in eradication of discrimination from the society (Kite, 2013). c) Ways to Counteract Discrimination Discrimination is common in all spheres of society. If proper steps are not taken to eradicate the same, it may lead to form sin in the life of the individuals. Any type of report appears to the school management regarding discrimination based on the aforesaid grounds, it is the duty of the management to look over the matter and take evitable steps to eradicate the same. Several strategies or ways are present to fight with this problem. In this regard, one of such ways can be reckoned as framing a group activity including all the students belonging to different class and origin. Apart from this, while conducting any sort of cultural event, this must include all forms of performance so that the students can understand the essence of all culture. Task 4 Report Introduction Language is regarded as the medium to interact with the community members by illustrating different human behaviours. It is the media with the help of which, social life executes its function. Without language, communication cannot take place and consequently interaction among the individuals in a society will not occur. Therefore, language is one of the vital means of communication for social interaction. Different sociologists have proposed several theories relating to the role of language in the context of social interaction as well as discrimination. Sociologists suggested in this regard that the relationship amid the societies and language is mutually conclusive (Sage, 2015). Role of Language in Social Interaction and Discrimination Language is the key, which accelerates the engine of making wider social interactions in a society. In a specific community, there exist numerous people who belong to different linguistic backgrounds (Wright & Bougie, 2007). While explaining the role of language in the background of social interaction and discrimination, it must be mentioned that discrimination and prejudice has close relationship with each other but both are not directly related. Prejudice is something to form negative opinion without knowing appropriate facts of the circumstances whereas; discrimination is related to show partiality. Prejudice plays a decisive part in promoting discrimination within a society based on language. Intergroup communication is the essence of interaction in the society. Social psychological studies have revealed that in linguistic discrimination, prejudice plays a vital role. Nevertheless, the studies on discrimination in a society have paid very less attention to language. It is experimental proof that dominant language rules in the society. Languages spoken by the people rule the society and those person forming groups in the same often underestimate the minority group. This underestimation of the minority group creates discrimination in the society. Discrimination like this seems to be existed in workplace, school and other social institutions. Natural justice is overruled in this framework of the society (International Association for Language Education Policy Studies, 2013). a) Explanation about How Individuals in Organisations Can Discriminate Through Language With regards to the above stated context, it can be affirmed that the individuals in the organisations can discriminate through language by creating partiality amid the individuals within a specific group. An individual working within an organisation may face linguistic problems, as the individual might get discriminated based on the variables concerning race or colour. This eventually creates status quo in the society therefore, it is necessary to prevent rising discrimination through language within the organisations (Wright & Bougie, 2007). b) Discussion about the Way of Language Tone Tone is another mode of discrimination, which often occurs in the context of social interaction. Variances in tone specifically by the minority groups eventually become a source of creating discrimination. Assumptions In terms of assumptions, workplace discrimination generally arises based on sex and race. Equality is a base of assumption of all law and breach of the same often creates discrimination. Choice of Words The word ‘choice’ indicates freedom, self dependable and personal responsibility. With respect to discrimination, choice is the independent variable to render options amid the person who faces discrimination in workplace. For instance, a person may face the issue concerning discrimination while being asked by his/her lawyer to go through the choice of words. Non-Verbal Signals In a workplace, a person may face discrimination by the non-verbal signals send either by his or her colleagues or superior. For instance, sexual harassment often faces by the women in a workplace, which is a burning problem that gives birth to non verbal words (Wright & Bougie, 2007). Conclusion From the above analysis and discussion, it can be ascertained that linguistic discrimination creates huge gap in a society amongst the groups. However, language is regarded as the means of forming along with developing communication and interaction within a society. Language and society both are interrelated as without one the other becomes incomplete. Again, language and prejudice both forms firm connection within one another, though their meanings are deemed to be different. Discrimination based on language violates the principal of natural justice. Thus, in conclusion, it can be inferred that a setting must be designed to remove the gaps persisting amid different linguistic groups, preventing the rising level of discrimination through language within the organisations. References Anderson, M. & Taylor, H., 2007. Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society, Updated. Cengage Learning. Boundless, 2015. Institutional Prejudice or Discrimination. Discrimination. [Online] Available at: https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/race-and-ethnicity-10/prejudice-and-discrimination-82/institutional-prejudice-or-discrimination-478-6773/ [Accessed May 29, 2015]. Brent, E. & Lewis, J.S., 2013. Learn Sociology. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Benokraitis, N.V. & Feagin, J. R., 1986. Overt Discrimination. 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