We are dealing with the discrimination in the workplace in many companies - particularly as it relates to women, aspiring to management positions, ethnic minorities. Discrimination often pushes people into the arms of the informal economy. Discriminated people have the worst jobs, work without social security benefits, training, sometimes even without cash, without access to loans and opportunities to purchase land.
Definition of discrimination: Discrimination is a distinction, exclusion or preference made on the basis of race, sex, religion, political beliefs, ethnic or social origin, sexual orientation, etc.. which leads to reducing or preventing the right to employment, and reduce right to equal treatment on entry into work or in the workplace. 
Long time ago I heard an interesting story about a woman who was discriminated. It took place in USA. In company X were working only white people. One day boss decided to hire another employee but this time it was a black woman. It was just a case. Usually the boss employed only white people because he didn't like black. He was a racialist. Since beginning she was persecuted. The Boss had very bad relations with her. After a few weeks the boss wanted do dismiss her. But she really wanted to work there. She had to work to support her family. The Boss didn't have any reasons to dismiss her. Law in this case protects an employee. So he decided to do everything to discourage her to work. He was giving her a lot of work, ordering her to stay in work after work-hours. She was demeaned. She was always criticized. But despite all these humiliations she was determined to work there. Until he started to be aggressive towards her. One day, unable to endure the treatment she decided to sue the boss accusing him of discrimination. The court appointed a special commission to analyze this case. After a few days it turned out it was not the first such case. The Boss was charged with discrimination and at first he had to pay the black woman a lot of money (150’000 US dollars) for the harm and second he had to go to prison for one year. Law in this case won! And the black woman was rewarded for all her harms.
Have you ever been a victim of discrimination?
What will you do in case of being discriminated?
Have you heard any other interesting stories about discrimination?
Well I know that for many people it sounds senseless but in some cases really attractive women are discriminated by men. It is a stereotype that beautiful girl can’t be at the same time intelligence. It is very common in some scientific professions or connected with mathematic, physics or computer science. They have to make an effort to prove that they are really smart and well- educated. I am sure that you think that it is a fad but it’s a real problem for some of them to build their own position and respect. What do you think about it?
ReplyDeleteI had to think about it for a longer moment, but yes - I remember one situation when I felt really discriminated.
ReplyDeleteThere's a manga convention in Paris that I attend every year and sell gadgets with my graphics on a small stand. Every time organizators of this event give us(me and other sellers from Poland) worst places even if we pay the same price as artists from France. Last time me and my stand partner asked our friend from France for making a reservation for us - so people who allocate stands thought that we are French - of course it was a first time when they gave us normal place there(the rest of Polish sellers receive terrible places again). Maybe it doesn't sound like a big deal, but believe me that preparing stuff to sell and a whole trip to Paris are a big investition so it's really important if you'll have a place in the crowdy area... In cases like that it's really hard to prove that you are a victim of discrimanation, I wish that I knew what to do to make that unfair situation better but is really hard esp. when this is a really big event(for 200.000 visitors). We just feel completely powerless.
I have never been discriminated for no reason, so I don’t have real experience in it. Marta it’s really sad that organizer did that. Probably it was just the easier way to cover all space.
ReplyDeleteMałgosia it’s well known that beautiful girl, or even a girl in some places has to work little bit harder than men, but it’s partly your (not your personally) fault. For example a lot of beautiful, popular girls don’t show the intelligent at all. So maybe the image of a beautiful but stupid girl is in the subconscious.
I have been discriminated a couple of times when I lived in Germany. German is my native language so generally no one knew that I'm a polish citizen. But as soon as someone knew my surname it wasn't hard to guess. Poles are for Germans mostly thieves and some people made a couple of times fun of it.
ReplyDeleteI have been discriminated at work because of my age. People that were two times older then me had problems with following my directives and they held no respect for me. Unfortunately for them, I was the one who had right and going with this to my supervisor helped much.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, I never was a victim of discrimination.
ReplyDeleteIt happens really often on holidays. Tourist from other countries are often treated better than polish people. Germans and Russians...
ReplyDeleteBut it is not problem for me at all, in situations like this a simply get angry for some time and thats all.
I have personally never been a victim of discrimination. Nowadays, there are a lot of legal regulations concerning discrimination and its penalization. In Poland, this phenomenon is still not so popular as it is in the United States. There are many reasons for that, for instance, our society is not so rich in different ethnic groups that could be discriminated against. Moreover, I think we still have a lot of down to earth problems and we do not concentrate much on crimes such as mobbing, discrimination etc. In the European Union it has recently become popular. The famous case of the French stewardess who claimed that she was discriminated against because of her age is a good example. In my opinion, no one should be discriminated against because of their age, sex, race or even because of having children (employers tend to discriminate women because of that). However, people should also not exaggerate when it comes to the extent of the problem. We all know it happens often.
ReplyDeleteI have never had contact with discrimination, but I heard that unfortunately it's true. Recently appeared in the media advertising, speaking about discrimination. I think that if they noticed in my environment discrimination, I would try to do something to help the victim.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been a victim of discrimination?
ReplyDeleteI have never been a victim of discrimination.
What will you do in case of being discriminated?
I would fight with it. I'd find allies, who would have the same problems as me and we would try to publicize this situation to the media. This always works
Have you heard any other interesting stories about discrimination?
Once in class, my friend was a victim of a discrimination based on weight. She was very fat. nobody wanted to play with her in order to not have bad reputation. I notified this problem to our teacher and the school held us talks with a psychologist