It is called discrimination every attitude that excludes, separates and inferiorizes people based on prejudiced ideas.
This type of violence is generally practiced against the lower social classes, the black population, LGBT population, obese, northeastern people, people of other ethnicities and religions, in addition to other groups social.
Discrimination and Human Rights
Discriminating someone consists in preventing that person from exercising their rights as a human being, segregating them and denying them access to things and situations.
In order to guarantee respect and defend the dignity of all individuals, without making any distinction, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a 1948 document, drawn up three years after World War II World.
Therefore, anyone who commits a discriminatory act goes against article 7 of the Declaration, which provides:
All are equal before the law and are entitled, without any distinction, to the equal protection of the law. Everyone is entitled to equal protection against any discrimination that violates this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Discrimination comes from prejudice.
Discrimination is often seen as the same thing as prejudice. In fact, the two terms are related.
However, we consider preconception an attitude more linked to psychological and mental aspects. The prejudiced person has unfounded opinions, structured on preconceived ideas and the result of ignorance.
already the social discrimination it is something more concrete, an attitude of segregation or differentiated treatment, lowering an individual or group of individuals.
Thus, all discrimination arises from prejudice and some are considered crimes and can be punished in court.
What are the types of discrimination?
There are several reasons that lead people to discriminate against others.
It happens due to the inequality and social structure in which we are inserted, where social groups are more valued or have greater purchasing power to the detriment of others.
Discrimination due to social class
This is a form of discrimination based on the socio-economic condition of the citizen.
It happens when people who are not in a certain social class are segregated, treated harshly or prevented from attending any space.
It is a way of excluding poor people from environments or treating them with indifference and stupidity.
Racial or ethnic discrimination: racism and xenophobia
The term "race" is currently no longer used, as it is understood that all human beings are part of the human race.
However, the concept of "racial discrimination" still persists. This happens when people from different ethnic backgrounds are discriminated against.
In most countries, Afro-descendants are the ones who suffer this type of attack, which also bears the name of racism.
This has deep origins, the fruit of the slave system that kidnapped thousands of people from Africa to be enslaved in other countries.
Thus, the consequence is discrimination and the enormous inequality of opportunity between whites and blacks. This reality generates in this population a higher rate of unemployment, lower purchasing power, social vulnerability, greater incarceration and other problems.
There is also discrimination against people from other regions or countries, which can be classified as xenophobia.
To learn more about the subject, read: Preconception and Writing on Racism: how to make the best text?
Gender Discrimination or Sexual Orientation
There is also discrimination motivated by sexual or gender orientation. In this type, the LGBT population is the target of aggression.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals are a large portion of people who suffer discriminatory acts.
Trans people are the most affected, even violated by their own families. This kind of attitude is called transphobia.
Thus, many leave home without being able to support themselves, are not accepted in formal jobs and end up subjecting themselves to prostitution.
In addition, there is discrimination practiced against women around the world, which stems from a patriarchal system. this we can call misogynyor sexism.
Laws against discrimination in Brazil
In Brazil, in 1951, a law was created with the intention of curbing racist acts, it is the Afonso Arinos Law, created by Deputy Afonso Arinos de Melo Franco.
The initiative for such a law came after the African-American dancer Katherine Dunham was prevented from staying in a hotel in the city of São Paulo.
More than 35 years later, in 1988, there was an amendment to the Constitution that made acts of racism a crime, subject to non-bailable imprisonment.
You may also be interested in: what is prejudice and types of prejudice.
