Introduction
Discrimination in the society is an issue as old as the existence of mankind. It has always been subjected to the minority groups in the society and created a social class gap in the society that has enabled the stronger in to exploit and rule upon those considered weak. Complete diversity has never been a practical issue since time immemorial. The issues regarding discrimination in the societies we live today or even in the traditional societies have always been based on the rule of normalcy within the society. This refers to cultures that have subjected certain group of people in the society as the weak group that cannot participate fully in issues regarding the society (Chin, Curtis, and Tony Lam. Vincent Who?United States: Asian Pacific Americans for Progress). These groups are not only made to feel weak, but have also been forced to accept that their role is not defined by the society alone but by nature. Despite this, the society is inevitably an entity that evolves over time and it has been forced by circumstances or otherwise to shed off the perceptions it has previously had on some minority groups and recognizes their role and status in the society as equal members (Healey, Joseph F, 3).
This paper focuses on the changing role of women and its effects on other forms of discrimination that have existed in the society. Women have for a long time been subjected to discrimination of the worst forms especially in traditional societies. The role of women was limited to home and family. They were not allowed to participate in other issues regarding the society. Education in particular was not a priority when it came to girl child (Dayan, Evea. "The Changing Role of Women in the Workforce”). Surprisingly, the society in all ways tended to have systems that could not offer the least favorable environment for women to participate in social life. The change in role of women cannot be credited today to kindness from men or the natural evolvement of society. It is definitely due to the sacrifices that women have made as they sought to find their place in the society. The need for a more defined role in the society, with more recognition and involvement in matters that relate to the society, has over time made women to fight in all aspects to stamp their own authority in order to gain the same social status as every other humankind.
The benefits of the fight by women for their place in the society have not been felt by the women population alone. With time, it has become more of a revolution as other minority groups have sought inspiration from the struggle by women to find their own place in the society. Discrimination in the society existed in many forms. Gender discrimination has been the most felt while race, ethnicity and sexual discrimination have been all but purely existent as the human race. These forms of discrimination have been fought over time and today, though not completely eliminated from the society, their previously strong manifestation has been curbed (Healey, Joseph F, 20).
As women began attending schools, there role evolved over time to from family centered citizens of the society to individuals with equal share of rights in the society. Women began participating in society matters and realize that they had as much potential as anyone else in the society (Dayan, Evea. "The Changing Role of Women in the Workforce”). They realized that there needs were being trampled on. Education now became an eye opener. It was not easy though, as even with greater achievements than their male counterparts, they could only be afforded lower jobs. More needed to be done. This led to the rise of women movements in the society to demand for the equal rights of the women population. With time, some women have distinguished themselves and achieved extraordinary feats that have not gone unrecognized. With these, they have been able to find references as to why they need equal recognition as anyone else in the society.
Racial, ethnic and sexual minority groups have joined the same route. They have decided to actively fight for their rights and place in the society. The minority races and ethnic groups are now demanding equal access to social services such as education and medical care. They want the authorities to recognize them as equal members of the society with a value to the society rather than a population that is dependent on favors from the government or the majority group (Chin, Curtis, and Tony Lam. Vincent Who?United States: Asian Pacific Americans for Progress). These racial minority groups have formed movements that over time have taken the initiative to advocate for their rights. In particular, they have used these movements to channel their grievances to authorities so that the law is changed to accommodate them as equal citizens within a multiracial, multiethnic and multicultural setting.
Sexual discrimination is one issue that has generated emotional debate over the years. The very fact that it deeply affects the psychology and social life of the minority groups categorized under this discrimination is a clear testimony of the challenges that have been apparent to the victims. The victims of sexual discrimination have conquered most challenges especially concerning legality (Healey, Joseph F, 62). Their biggest block though has been integration with the other members of the society. The case has not been better in developing countries in particular. Most legal systems still consider them as non-existent groups and no measures have been taken to address their plight (Latin American Center on Sexuality and Human Rights, 40). Despite this, these groups have formed movements to advocate for the rights of gays and lesbians in particular. The complex situation is brought about by the current dynamic world that we live in. these groups have and still are able to access social; services such as education amidst all these challenges. With time, they have been able to achieve extraordinary feats or reached influential positions in the societal setting where they are able to advocate more actively for their rights.
For the racial, ethnic and sexual discrimination, it has not been a tough advocacy journey. The patterns of discrimination are still visible including those of gender. But it is right to argue that the women movements formed since the 1800s and the gradual increase in access to education has enabled the women to claim their rightful stake in the society (Dayan, Evea. "The Changing Role of Women in the Workforce”). The journey of advocacy for women’s rights has been the toughest though. Navigating through the times when the society was controlled by personal and religious doctrines, women have fought the hard battle to counter obstacles they have encountered along the way. The religion had sidelined them, and considering the beliefs of religion are absolute and unquestionable especially in the traditional society, it was hard for the women to change their place in the society (Healey, Joseph F, 73).
Rightly so, the experiences women encountered cannot be equated to what modern discrimination is today either in terms of race, ethnic or sexual terms. The gay and lesbian society for instance is able to negotiate its way through the systems of the society (Latin American Center on Sexuality and Human Rights, 40). Coupled with then largely accommodating world today, they have face less challenges in achieving their place in society. As their numbers swell each day, these groups have taken advantages of such numbers to make the society feel their needs (Healey, Joseph F, 96). These are the same strategies that women have over time implemented to win back their place in the society.
Racial discrimination provides distinction of skin color or eye shape and physical appearance in general. The victims of this form of discrimination have over time gained access to education and other social services which have influenced their negotiation and advocacy power. They have been able to oppose politically oppressive systems and laws and succeeded in part. The Asians, Latinos, African and other races have come together to fight for their rights as a large group (Healey, Joseph F, 50). They have realized the importance of numbers in the same way as women did in the early eighties. Through this strategy, they have been able to recoup their power and place in the society despite the fact that they are considered non-natives.
On the other hand, ethnic discrimination which provides for distinction in terms of language, nationality, religion and culture has been fought in all fronts. Every ethnic group has sought to find and retain its own identity while getting equal share of recognition from other society members (Chin, Curtis, and Tony Lam. Vincent Who?United States: Asian Pacific Americans for Progress). Every ethnic group wants to have its say in the society, as it happened with the women advocacy in their most turbulent times, economic circumstances have forced systems to adopt measures that equally or partly recognize the need to offer opportunities’ to every member of the society. As the roles of individuals from the minority groups gradually increase, and as they get more empowerment through education, these groups have tended to become more influential both economically and politically. At these heights they are able to participate and influence how ethnic groups are handled to help curb discrimination against them (Healey, Joseph F, 106).
Conclusion
The struggle for women to fight against gender discrimination can be termed as the mother of all struggles against all other forms of discrimination. It can be credited to have offered the perfect strategies upon which all other minority groups can seek for inspiration to claim their place in the society. The role of women has changed from what it was traditionally. Women were considered family centered humans with no place on issues regarding society. Today, many women hold influential positions in the society. Surprisingly it is by merit. It has shown that with a flat platform for everyone, gender differences do not affect delivery of service to the society (Dayan, Evea. "The Changing Role of Women in the Workforce”).
. With this, minority groups that have been discriminated on racial, ethnic and sexual basis have gained the determination to advocate for their rights as much as women have done.
Works Cited
Chin, Curtis, and Tony Lam. Vincent Who?United States: Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, 2013. Michigan: [United States] : Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, ©2013., 2013. WorldCat. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
Dayan, Evea. "The Changing Role of Women in the Workforce - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com." Yahoo Contributor Network. Yahoo! News Network., 21 July 2007. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
Healey, Joseph F. Diversity and Society: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender. N.p., 2014. Print.
Latin American Center on Sexuality and Human Rights. CLAM - Centro Latino-Americano em Sexualidade e Direitos Humanos. Centro Latino-Americano, 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
