Discrimination: Not Just a Black & White Issue

The purpose of this blog is to examin discrimination as it creeps through all areas of our lives. When we hear the word "Discrimination" we typically think of race. Discrimination includes sex, gender, religion, atttitudes, economic statuses, and so much more. This issue can can cause individuals who have been discriminated against to become defensive and to even began discriminating against others. On tomorrow I would like you to reflect on the issue and think about whether or not your actions can be perceived as being discriminatory. Perception is everything. Maybe not everything, but it often determines our actions and reactions. So, just examine yourself and in the event that you do find your actions to be offensive to another fix it by rewording a statment, changing a look, or apologizing. Together we will change the world. Or, at least the world that we live in.

Unfortunately, discrimination is present throughout all walks of life. A similar experience happened to me when I became pregnant. I was working for a local attorney and called in to work one day so go visit the doctor. On the initial phone call the staff, including the attorney, were very apologetic stating that they hope I returned soon and felt better. Well, I called the next day to state my current situation only to welcome an unwanted, "Well we will have to call you back before you return to work." They called me back alrighty, to state that I need not return. My feeling were really hurt. Later after finding out that I had a possible law suit, my pride was hurt. Nevertheless, we live, learn, move on and hopefully grow wise enough to not treat others the way that we have been treated.

Discrimination is a widespread issue. I chose it because I feel that everyone can relate to it and in an effort to remind everyone of how we may sometimes make our client's or other people in our lives feel discriminated against. I am a strong believer that it is not always our intentions that have to be good but also our delivery of these intentions so that they are not perceived incorrectly.

As a blog topic, I have chosen discrimination in an effort to examine how it affects others, how I have allowed it to affect me, and what I can do as a social worker and as a maturing human to help mature my thoughts and understanding of this term/subject.