Discrimination in our Society Today
Saralynne Liston
Consumer in our Society: SEC 345 45
Seton Hill University
Professor Stubbs
November 4, 2022
Discrimination In Our Society Today
Discrimination amongst African Americans has been a well-known, on-going issue for years.
Although the Civil Rights Act prohibited the discrimination based on color, race, religion, sex, or
national origin, discrimination continued, it still exists today. Not only are blacks discriminated
against, but also women, students, Chicanos, gays and lesbians, and the elderly. We have made a
lot of progress with discrimination; however, we still have a long way to go, and in my opinion,
discrimination and racism will never be something we eradicate.
Fighting for women’s rights date back to the 19th and 20th centuries. Beginning with the right to
vote, to live free from violence, to an education, to the right to own property, to job and wage
equality, which is still in progress. One of the most common women’s right violations I can see
today is discrimination of women in the work place (Timeline: Women of the World, Unite!,
n.d.). From unattainable leadership roles, to being paid less, to harassment, and discrimination
for being a mother. In terms of gender, oftentimes if a male and a female are equally qualified for
the same employment position, many times hiring managers go with the male
candidate. Compounding the issue is single mother discrimination, where employers tend to
avoid hiring single mothers and/or women who are likely to become pregnant and miss work.
Citing research in scholarly journals, the American Association of University Women (AAUW)
points to the “motherhood penalty,” by which hiring managers are less likely to hire mothers as
opposed to a childless female. Mothers are also typically offered a lower salary than childless
women (The Motherhood Penalty, n.d.).
Students also are discriminated against. Types of discrimination towards students are be based on
race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, economic status, religion, age, or ability. Discrimination can
come in the form of harassment, experiencing a different level of treatment because of race or
gender, exclusion, unequal opportunities. Some may be unaware that their actions are
discriminatory. It may be subtle, or it may be obvious (Prejudice and Discrimination, 2019). I
do not personally feel I have ever experience discrimination as a student now do I know anyone
personally who has been.
A common group that gets discriminated against but has been becoming more and more public
and accepted are gays and lesbians. The gay rights movement started in 1924 by Henry Gerber. It
wasn’t until 2015 that the Supreme County declared same sex marriage legal. During WWII
homosexual men in concentration camps were forced to wear pink triangle badges on their shirts.
Although there continued to be progress in the 1960’s homosexuals continued to be
discriminated against and harassed in bars and restaurants. Raids, parades, and marches began to
break out over the next years. Today, there are laws protecting the rights of gay, lesbians, and
transgenders (Editors, 2018).
Discrimination often occurs among the elderly. Ageism is discrimination against someone
because of their age. A WHO report from March 2021 stated that one in two people have ageist
attitudes toward the elderly. Older people often have difficulty accessing emergency services
during extreme weather, the sexual and reproductive health of older women is often disregarded,
and the elderly are often more likely to be caught in fighting during conflicts (Sleap, 2021).
Although much progress against discrimination and racism has been made in many groups over
the years, it is far from a “thing of the past. It is still much more common than it should be and
likely will forever be something people struggle against. It is unfortunate that people can not just
see people for who they are rather than uncontrollable aspects of life. I believe as long as we are
on this Earth, we will continue to face this fight.
References
Editors, History. com. (2018, August 21). Gay Rights. HISTORY; A&E Television Networks.
https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/history-of-gay-rights
Prejudice and Discrimination. (2019, July 24). The University of Newcastle, Australia.
https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/no-room-for/prejudice-and-
discrimination#:~:text=This%20can%20be%20based%20on
Sleap, B. (2021, September 20). Discrimination Against Older People Pervasive Worldwide.
Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/09/20/discrimination-against-
older-people-pervasive worldwide#:~:text=Ageism%20%E2%80%93%20the
%20stereotyping%2C%20prejudice%2C
The Motherhood Penalty. (n.d.). AAUW : Empowering Women since 1881.
https://www.aauw.org/issues/equity/motherhood/
Timeline: Women of the world, unite! (n.d.). Interactive.unwomen.org. Retrieved November 4,
2022, from https://interactive.unwomen.org/multimedia/timeline/womenunite/en/
index.html?
gclid=CjwKCAjw8JKbBhBYEiwAs3sxN4fh_iVvhTEPjitKlmIkVthSTRpWTxm3h16cW
JOAES_UqBIBZ7qhKBoCPBUQAvD_BwE#/1960
