Diversity can influence how individuals appreciate and respect their differences in gender, ethnicity, age, disability, education, and religion. Heterogeneity allows individuals to explore the differences in a positive, nurturing, and safe environment. Through diversity, we can understand each other differences and embrace them as our own. Based on the standard diversity definition, their various dissimilarities are associated with society’s perception of diversity. The types of diversity in terms of social context involve race and gender, which are the core founders of discrimination.
Racial turmoil is one form of diversity that has stood in the United States for several years. Historically, structural racism and oppression in institutions have been social dominance over the African community. African Americans are still oppressed in the criminal justice system in today’s society, ranging from racial disparities in sentencing and execution to racial profiling (Zastrow & Hessenauer, 2018). The historical events regarding race have interfered with the relations between the criminal justice system and the American community, particularly law enforcement agencies. The tension between these two groups has led to a rise in discrimination, injustice, and oppression of minor individuals such as African American males.
The reflection of racial disparities in society may be significantly associated with the pressure on Africans throughout historical events. Discrimination toward black is not just an issue involving equality and fair opportunities in the United States. It also has a severe effect on education and health consequences. In particular, black Americans cooperate with racism and interpersonal racial discrimination that lead to them experiencing health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and hypertension. Due to racial discrimination, black people are often offered underutilized healthcare and not proper medical attention.
The second form of diversity is gender identity; this is a personal inner feeling of whether one is male, female, both, or neither. Transgender Americans also face prejudice in school, work, healthcare facilities, and enforcement laws. The discrimination exists despite the Civil rights that have been enhanced to curb the business. The research reported a high discrimination rate in organizations involving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans. It stated individuals were fired out of their working stations due to who they presented as rather than focusing on their work performance (Harpalani, 2019). The lack of civil rights to protect the transgender community has left them unprotected and lacking legal rights in the face of prejudice.
However, it is not just at workplaces that transgender experience prejudice. In the education sector, students are only allowed to participate in activities, access housing facilities, and use facilities based on a person’s gender. In addition, individuals are forced to use public facilities based on their gender rather than their gender identity. These measures are interfering with the dignity and safety of transgender people. Moreover, banning transgender individuals from the military is generally unfair to them. The individuals also face biasedness in terms of healthcare services offered to them as they are provided with poor medical services.
The discussion on diversity in race and gender has increased my knowledge of how individual discrimination occurs. This part of the study has increased my understanding of why specific individuals are treated in a particular manner, which is generally unfair. The differences between individuals should not be the core factors in inequality among individuals. We should learn to value and respect one another’s differences in culture, religion, or gender. It is essential to associate with everyone as each person has different ideas to present. Interacting with every person helps one understand them better and not judge them regarding their race or ethnicity.
Regarding the above, I have been raised in an environment where people had a negative attitude toward black, which influenced how I view them. However, after learning about diversity on the distinctions among individuals, I plan on changing my view on black. I have acknowledged that cultures, races, and ethnicities share different attributes through diversity. Through this, I have found the proper modest to curb this by associating with various races from mine. Associating with various races will help me eliminate my thoughts on how I view individuals from another race.
The Bible also condemns all those who discriminate or maltreat others through different scriptures. In the book of 1, Samuel verse 16:7 says that the lords look in a person’s heart while a man looks outward. The verse states that God does not care about a person’s color, race, or ethnicity, but he concentrates on a person as the differences in individuals do not matter in his eyes. The other scripture is Matthew 7:1, which dictates that we should not judge others for us not to be judged (Holy Bible, 2017). The verse illustrates that it is not for us to look down on others as we are also not perfect In God’s eyes.
James 2:1-26 says that a poor man should be given equal treatment to a rich man as those who shall receive eternal life are those He loves. This scripture states that the kingdom of God belongs to those who love him, and it is not based on social classes; hence, we are not supposed to mistreat others. The book of genesis 1:26-27 states that God made man in his image and like Ness (Holy Bible, 2017). Therefore, in God’s eyes, we were equal despite our differences in color or race; we all resemble God’s creation. Roman 12:18 states that we should all live in peace (Holy Bible, 2017). The scripture depicts that there should be no rivals among us as God expects us to live as one.
In conclusion, the power of diversity can only be eliminated if individuals recognize the differences among them and learn to value and respect other people’s backgrounds. By examining race and gender identity as forms of diversity, one can conclude that these are the factors that are influencing the discrimination experienced in society. Lack of better housing, poor employment, and good healthcare is a form of prejudice individuals experience due to their gender identity and race. No one is born a criminal, racist, or inhuman police officer. People are only raised in an environment that Influences their way of thinking about particular cultures, religions, or sex. Thus, we must all stand out and fight the biasness to correct the harms we have caused to specific individuals in our society. The Bible itself condemns prejudice and asks us to live in peace with each other as we are all equal in God’s eyes. Through God’s eyes were one as a society, and our differences in gender, ethnicity, or race should not interfere with how we treat others. Diversity should be a key component to understanding one another’s differences but not to bring differences among ourselves.
References
Harpalani, V. (2019). Race-conscious admissions, diversity, and academic freedom. SSRN Electronic Journal, 101-115. Web.
Holy Bible. (2017). Holy Bible. Zondervan.
Zastrow, C., & Hessenauer, S. (2018). Social work with groups (10th ed.). Cengage.