Introduction
The decision-making process is a very complex topic that involves many factors. Sociologists, psychologists, neuroscientists, and other experts work hard to understand the nature of the decision-making process better. Yet, there are many discoveries to be made, which increases the importance of the insights that could be gained from one’s own experience.
Hence, it is essential to observe one’s everyday behavior and decision-making to identify the factors and patterns that are involved in it. Some of the external factors that are imposed on groups of people generally must be addressed to make the decision-making process free of prejudice or discrimination. Therefore, in this essay, the role of ethnicity in the way people make decisions and the reasons behind it will be discussed.
Discussion
Ethnicity in the world today affects all aspects of life, including all careers and ways of life of different people. Diversity can be defined as the differences evident between people, which include cultural divisions, ethnic backgrounds, and other factors that make every person different from another (Kapadia & Bradby, 2021). In the decision-making process, the outcomes are dependent on different values, views, and perceptions of individuals toward the subject at hand. For instance, while making important life or career decisions, people from different ethnical backgrounds might consider the family as superior to themself. To some, different genders have different societal roles; other cultural backgrounds may have taboos related to different people’s behaviors, such as body language or even greetings (Harris et al., 2018). Different ethnic factors affect people and careers differently.
Unfortunately, racial or ethnic bias is still present in modern society despite the globalization and promotion of diversity. This is why one’s decision-making process could be affected by the way other people perceive the decision. For instance, ethnic stereotypes about certain traits may be offensive, and fear of facing such discrimination may cause people to avoid certain opportunities that may seem risky to them. Luckily, the law protects people from such discrimination, and such harassment can be addressed and prevented due to workplace policies in the United States (O’Donovan, 2018). When the decision-making process of people in power is affected by prejudice based on one’s ethnicity, it is considered an unethical violation and oftentimes causes a scandal.
In some cases, ethnic communities can experience social disparities and inequalities. For example, aboriginal and indigenous communities in Canada or Australia are known for having limited access to healthcare and suffering from various chronic diseases. Being a person who belongs to such a community must be hard, as besides facing injustice, these people may feel insecure about making certain decisions. For example, not many families of indigenous communities can afford an education for their children. As a result, their decision-making process is hindered by socioeconomic factors related to their ethnicity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, all people in the world belong to some ethnicity. Hence, it is a characteristic that should unite people but not be a source of prejudice and discrimination. Another reason why ethnicity might affect one’s decisions is the cultural background connected to ethnicity. Due to the customs and attitudes common to a certain ethnicity, the person’s life choices can be influenced differently. Hence, ethnicity, along with gender, religion, and socioeconomic status, is one of the factors that contribute to the decision-making process.
References
Harris, V. C., Links, A. R., Walsh, J., Schoo, D. P., Lee, A. H., Tunkel, D. E., & Boss, E. F. (2018). A systematic review of race/ethnicity and parental treatment decision-making. Clinical pediatrics, 57(12), 1453-1464.
Kapadia, D., & Bradby, H. (2021). Ethnicity and health. In Routledge international handbook of critical issues in health and illness (pp. 183-196). Routledge.
O’Donovan, D. (2018). Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace. Cham: Springer.