WHITE PAPER

Women, Gender, and Ethnicity & Social Change:

Discrimination

CRUZ, Reginald C.
GUDANI, Stacey Ann D.
ROZARIO, Ma. Kristina P.
3CA1

Dra. Gwenetha Y. Pusta

SocioComm

I.

Introduction
For the past couple of years the message of feminism has been spreading like wild fire all

throughout different countries of the world. Their goal is to achieve total equality between men
and woman, not put women over men as the more superior gender. Before the year 1848 men
have been the more superior gender among the two. Between a husband and his wife the husband
would have the final say over everything. Women were not even allowed to have jobs until the
National American Woman Suffrage Association was formed in 1848 and fought for their rights
like having jobs and being able to vote. Women were finally able to have jobs in 1848 after
womens rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. After two days of discussion,
they were now eligible to have jobs. After seven decades, women were allowed to vote in 1918.
The first country to allow women to vote was England, allowing women over the age of 30 to
vote. A year later the Dutch received the same right and on August 26, 1920 American women
would finally have their right to vote. Even though there have been a lot of efforts throughout
history, women still feel discriminated in different areas of society. A clear example would be
how some companies use women to attract their customers so that they would buy their products.
In the 1950s many companies used pin up girls in their advertisements. Companies like PEZ,
Lucky Strike and Coke used attractive women and their sex appeal to boost their sales. Even
though the pins up ads are now phased out, some companies still use women to attract customers.
In malls a telecommunications company have women wearing really tight or skimpy outfits and
handing out flyers to people who walk by their booth. According to Inter Press Service, "On a
global scale, women cultivate more than half of all the food that is grown. In sub-Saharan Africa

and the Caribbean, they produce up to 80 percent of basic foodstuffs. In Asia, they account for
around 50 percent of food production. In Latin America, they are mainly engaged in subsistence
farming, horticulture, poultry and raising small livestock." Yet women often get little recognition
for that. In fact, many go unpaid. It is very difficult for these women to get the financial
resources required to buy equipment etc., as many societies still do not accept, or realize, that
there is a change in the "traditional" roles. Reasons for such disparity include the fact that women
are generally underpaid and because they often perform low-status jobs, compared to men.
UNICEF notes that the data isnt always perfect, and that generalizations can hide wider
fluctuations. In Brazil, for example, women under the age of 25 earn a higher average hourly
wage than their male counterparts. However, in developing nations and in most industrialized
nations, men are usually paid more than their female counterparts in the same field. Wage
discrimination is also prevalent in the U.S. As noted earlier, women today are paid only 72 cents
for every dollar a man earns. Another case of discrimination against women would be in the
government. If the country has a woman for a leader other countries would believe that the said
country is weak. In America all 44 of their presidents have been men. The closest woman they
ever had in office was Hilary Clinton back in 2012 when she was running against Barack Obama
and John McCain but she dropped out of the race after months of campaigning. Women tend to
be overlooked because society sees men as the stronger more hardworking gender among the
two, though in this day and age of ours you cant say sexist things without being ridiculed
because everyone is empowered now. Sexism is a big deal now with all the feminist campaigns
that fight for gender equality.

People tend to think that gender discrimination is just a two way street, they are badly
mistaken. Its an intersection. Men, Women, Gays and Lesbians, any gender orientation isnt safe
from discrimination. One of the best examples of gender discrimination is the Catholic Church.
They do not just frown upon same sex love; they absolutely hate the mere idea of it. In a country
like ours which the dominate religion is catholic, not to mention also conservative, they do not
accept the fact men who like men or women who like women come out to society like its
nothing. If people in our country find out that the person is gay they are automatically judged.
Even the sports that people play here are somehow connected to their sexual orientation. If a guy
plays volleyball people automatically thinks that hes gay or if a girl plays basketball they
assume that the girl is a lesbian. In the workplace, far too often LGBT workers are not hired, not
promoted or in worst cases, are fired not because of their work qualifications but because of their
sexual orientation. Co-workers would sometimes harass other LGBT employees for their sexual
preferences. According to a recent poll by Harris a Nielsen company that put the study
together with Out & Equal and Witeck Communications Americans support protection against
discrimination across the board. The poll conducted last month which consisted of 2,543 adults
of whom 2,068 indicated they were heterosexual and 354 self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) showed that 55% feel no employer should be exempt from a law
barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. Two-thirds of those polled agree that federal
law should be expanded to include protection from job discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity. Also, 54% strongly agree that transgender workers should be

treated equally. An article on Forbes saying that more than half of the poll takers agree that
LGBT workers should be treated like any other worker they have on their roster of workers. How
people see other people with other sexual preferences is usually normal in our generation
because of LGBT organizations who fight for their right to be treated equally and not be
ridiculed to offensive treatment and discrimination towards them.

What separates person from another is his or her ethnicity. We differ in race, in color, in
religion and so much more. Sometimes because of our difference we are ridiculed to
discrimination. Ethnic discrimination is the unequal treatment of a person based on the actuality
that they belong to a certain ethnic or national group. Ethnic discrimination can also involve
placing a person in a different position on the basis of religion, skin color or nationality. Other
than being unequally treated, discrimination also creates an intimidating, humiliating, hostile or
offensive environment, and the instruction or order to discriminate. In our country alone we
discriminate, being a catholic country our fellow countrymen judge those who are of different
religion and more specifically Muslims. In the Philippines, the radical temper of many Muslims
has by now led to insurgencies and terrorist acts. This kind of rebellion, which has its roots in
past anti-Spanish and anti-American movements, is as much a reform movement as it is the
expression of the Muslims desire to overcome their marginal political and economic position.
Todays radical movements are the

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by Nur

Misuari, whose objective is to establish a Bangsamoro Republic of Mindanao, the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF), a spin-off of the MNLF, founded by Hashim Salamat, which aims at
establishing its own Islamic state on Mindanao, and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) founded by

Abdurajak Janjalani in 1989, which cultivates an extreme interpretation of Islam and is regarded
as a terrorist group even by the countrys Muslims. But what are the causes of this internal
conflict? In the southern Philippines, the Muslims grudge against the central government
certainly is a factor. In the country as a whole, however, a number of factors led to the
radicalization of the Muslim population. First of all, there is the frustration over the unresolved
Bangsamoro problem which continues because of the unjust treatment of the Moros although the
government and the MNLF signed a peace agreement in 1996. Another reason is the
discrimination against Muslims and the constant preference of Christians, which might
encourage radicalization even further. According to a survey carried out in 2006, one in three
Filipinos has a negative opinion of Muslims. Another survey revealed even more alarming
results. A UN study shows that 55 percent of Filipinos think that Muslims are prone to run
amok, that 47 percent think Muslims are terrorists or extremists, that 44 percent believe that
Muslims harbor hatred toward non-Muslims, and that most Christians do not even want to live
next door to Muslims. A third reason is the circumstance that Philippine Muslims are themselves
subject to forces that affect Islam worldwide, such as fundamentalism or the fear of
modernization. Author Unknown. That is just in our country alone. When the tragic events of
9/11 happened in America, it is safe t say that racial profiling erupted in many airports all along
the United States of America. TSA agents that work in different airports in the US have been
reported on their local news and other international news that whenever a man that looks Indian,
Arab, or Muslim arrives at their airport they immediately profile them. They assume that they are
a terrorist because of their race. Another example of ethnic discrimination would be the color of
a persons skin. In America racial stereotypes are rampant all over the country. If the person is
black they think hes automatically in a gang of some sort or is very good as basketball. If the

person is Asian they assume the person is really smart or a bad driver. If the person is white they
think assume that he or she is racist. If the person is Hispanic people think he or she is an alien
who crossed the border illegally. You cant help but wonder why this happens in our society, we
may have our differences but we are all the underneath the color of our skin or whatever our
religion may be, were still all people. This paper aims to understand fully the depths of
discrimination, what may be the cause it and how we may avoid it.

II.

Problem
Discrimination means unequal or different treatment or harassment that causes harm.People

have the right to equal treatment and opportunities, without discrimination or harassment, in
these following areas: Employment, housing, contracts, services, goods and facilities, unions or
occupational/professional associations. The grounds are: race, colour, ancestry, place of origin,
citizenship, ethnic origin, creed (religion), disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity,
record of offenses and so many more.
Everyone in society can be discriminated against - the old for being old, the young for being
young, different nationalities, racial groups, sex, actual jobs, where you live, your school,
religion, number of children you have, or don't have, whether you drink, smoke, take drugs, or
do none of them, the newspaper you read, the clothes you wear and even the things you possess..
In fact you can be discriminated against for nearly everything you do. All it takes is one person
to decide that for an irrational reason you are less worthwhile for doing something than an
identical person who doesn't do that. Some places in the world this is a worse problem than in
others.

III.

Solution
What is discrimination? In the context of civil rights law, it refers to unfair or unequal

treatment of an individual based on certain characteristics, including: age, disability, race,

gender, ethnicity, marital status, religion, and sexual orientation. We must learn how to
understand, prevent and deal with discrimination. Lets start by asking questions. Have you ever
felt discriminated by someone? Or does it ever cross your mind how terrible Discrimination is?
Any type of person in this society should step up and do something to stop it. Wherever you go;
this issue is strongly forbidden. Just like here in the Philippines Article 111, Section 1, of the
Bill of Rights of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides for the equal treatment of all
individuals. The State is therefore mandated to protect its citizens against all forms of
discriminatory acts in order to promote equal protection and eliminate stereotypes and
prejudices.

We all know discrimination is a broad subject, but in this paper we will narrow it down
into three main topics: discrimination in employment, at school, and in our government.

It is

very hard to give a solution to this but because of the help of people who believes that we can
make our world a better place; we can surely make things work. We start creating a solution by
recognizing the bill of rights, Article 111, Section 5 which is entitled Acts of Discrimination

enumerated the laws against discrimination in employment, education, delivery of goods and
services and accommodation.
We start with discrimination in employment. For an employer to be successful in a
certain business he/she should equally fight discrimination among workforce thus, encourage
harmony and cooperation among personnel.

First step in doing so is to coordinate with the companys legal officer and create a
company manual that would indicate policies governing discrimination laws and procedures to
serve as guidelines for employees awareness of the topic. Said manual should be checked
and/or amended at least every quarter to make it responsive in the changing environment in the
workplace. Second is to conduct a training development among employees that would ensure
understanding of these policies and compliance with its rules and regulations.

Third is for

employers to establish certain activities that would enhance camaraderie and even promote
equality among employees like team building and/or sportsfest activities. These will likewise
strengthen relationship of male and female employees and establish a more solid foundation of
equal opportunity.

Fourth is for employers to have a help desk/service counters that would

entertain discrimination complaints of employees. In this regard, they would feel that they are
not left alone to handle pressure and stress in workplace. Also consider for employers to settle
discrimination complaints the soonest possible time so as not to aggravate the situation and as a
form of damage control. If after due process, disciplinary action shall be taken to employees
found guilty of discrimination complaints.

Now we proceed with discrimination at school. Creating a safe school and a positive
school climate can be a tough work. But no student should feel unsafe or unable to concentrate
on learning because of violence or disruptive behaviour. Often the students discriminate because
of their race or sexual orientation. According to Teaching Tolerance (A Project of the Southern
Poverty Law Center), the best ways to help students stop this problem are for them to participate
in school activities and to join organizations that will make them feel loved and safe. Join the
battle against discrimination. Hang out with the people you can trust and be with. Elders should
be aware of what environment the students will go through at a very young age; in order for them
to understand how wrong discrimination is. Another solution is that, displaying the consequences
if found guilty through the policy handbook; so that the people who are doing it will be afraid on
what might happen to them. The people who are concern to this situation, through the years, they
have been changing and making better school discipline guidelines and policies to help their
students have a brighter future ahead of them. Lastly, to present meeting lectures and invite
keynote speakers to talk about the negative short and long term effects of discrimination in
school environment. So that they will be aware on the things that they will get through if they
stop or keep doing it.

Last and the most intriguing part in making a solution is the topic about discrimination in
government. This topic is actually connected to the first one; it is basically a workplace too. But
the trick is, they are the ones who are making laws so, the concerned citizens cannot do anything
about it but instead, they will just go with the flow. An example of this is Americas first black

president Mr Barack Obama. In one of his interviews with CNN, he told the media that there's
probably never been less discrimination in America than there is today the pain of
discrimination is still felt" he addresses the Latinos, Muslims and gays too, as well as AfricanAmericans. Despite all the bashes and hatred that he got, he still stands strong and never gave up
for him to fight for what he believes in. Also, the women who were running for candidacy, they
were strongly discriminated as well. Because of stereotyping, the people thought that women are
not brave enough like the men. The issue regarding the pay gap against men and women are still
active and will never be resolved as of now. The stereotyping in the society all over the world is
getting more and more serious. But these all could be gone; just with the help of organizations
and the people being united as one. People need to justify for what is right.

IV.

Conclusion
Due to the stronger efforts of organizations and government laws that fight for equality

and human rights against those who discriminate, issues regarding discrimination will be
resolved in time because of the people who believe that all of us should be treated equally
regardless the gender or race of the person. There will be more and more solutions and concerned
citizens that will join as years pass by and discrimination will eventually stop, no matter how
long it will take. People have seen through the years that a lot has positively changed in the
society, and for that they strongly believe that there will come a time that discrimination will be a
thing of the past and everybody will be treated with equality and respect that they deserve. Since
discrimination is a major problem among different nations, hate crimes against humanity would
be up lifted from society when discrimination ceases to exist in society.

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