Discrimination

"Discrimination." Merriam-Webster dictionary online describes discrimination as a prejudiced outlook, action, or treatment and habing a different aspect responded differently.

Many discrimnations are happeneing today, in this world. These discriminations often happen in places with variety of individuals croweded in one place all together, such as communities and schools. The list below has discriminations that happens usually in schools;



Gender Discrimination against Girls Gender discriminations happen mostly because of expectations. They expect different things for girls and treat them differently because of their gender. There are still certain expectations for girls these days. People wish girls to stay quiet and calm, while they wish for boys do sports and stay active. For example, the online news article published on February 17th of 2008, mentioned//, “My son Todd was eight years-old and he brought home a worksheet from school that included fill in statements;// // The boy (climbed) the tree to look in the nest // // John was (pushed) in the mud when children were playing // // Mary (washed) the dishes for her mother // // Something girls wear (apron) // // The words in are the “fill in the blanks” // // They were taught that boys were active and that girls wash dishes and wear aprons.” // This is discrimination against girls, which shows their expectation that girls should stay home with aprons on, washing dishes. These minds and opinions often come from history and culture of each country. History is habit; habits should be history. People in the past have forbidden women from being allowed to work, vote, have educational rights and etc. In the medieval times, women were controlled over by men. They were to be obedient to men at all times and cook, along with spinning wheels to make clothes for the family. There was law set my men, which were limiting the freedom of women. Women weren’t allowed to own any business without special permission, women could not own any property unless they were widows, and women weren’t even allowed to divorce their husbands. Most girls at that time got married off at the age of 10~18 and a lot of them became a widow after few years or so. Most of them had barely any education unless it was about being a lady. They were all taught to be quiet, gentle and calm while the men in that period were highly educated and was allowed to have an opinion. St. Thomas of Aquinas, who was one of the great teachers of the period declared, //"The woman is subject to man on account of the weakness of her nature . . . Man is the beginning of woman and her end, just as God is the beginning and end of every creature. Children ought to love their Father more than they love their mother."// Meaning that they thought women were weak and had no potential abilities. (( concluding sentence )) Cultures in many countries are different; therefore, they had different knowledge and laws. Many countries in the world have not given women permission to have their own rights until the 1900s. For example, Korean people in the past have not praised females; instead, most of them were treated badly According to the Korean social studies text book, ancient Koreans believe that women should stay home do house chores and have male babies so the name would carry on. In the ancient times, people thought a boy was more useful than girls because they could work in the farms and the laws made at those times were suited for men. Women weren’t allowed to apply for jobs in higher positions such as helping the king, private doctor for the king and the king’s family and they weren’t allowed to go over the highest position, the maid of honor in the palace. These cultures led on, and on until they have decided it’s not fair because we’re all human beings and women getting treated differently is the wrong thing to do. So finally in 1948, Korean women got political rights such as voting. The Korean government has declared, //“Women are allowed to vote and they are allowed to have political rights”// in August 15th of 1948. To stop discriminating against genders, people should be alarmed and realize what they’re doing before they say anything.

=Sources=


 * http://www.equalopportunitycommission.vic.gov.au/types%20of%20discrimination/default.asp (List of discriminations)
 * http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/?id=2526022&refnum=762268 (skittles)
 * http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/wcar-index-e.html (world conference against racism)
 * http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/dre0970l.jpg (egg picture)
 * http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20080217/lifestyle.HTM (The Todd worksheet article)
 * http://www.kwdi.re.kr/data/02forum-1.pdf (Laws about Korean Women)
 * http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval_women.htm (Medieval Women)

by Caren