Individual and institutional discrimination
Dq (1 page)
Describe the difference between individual and institutional discrimination. Then provide a specific example of institutional discrimination (also known as systematic inequality) from current events. Your example may be based on either race or gender, using a local or national news source.
In response to your peers, discuss how these inequalities are reproduced. In other words, explain why you think this inequality continues to happen in our society.
To complete this assignment, review the Discussion Rubric document.
Response to peer (100 words )
“Individual discrimination refers to the behavior of individual members of one race/ethnic/gender group that is intended to have a differential and/or harmful effect on the members of another race/ethnic/gender group. Institutional discrimination, on the other hand, is quite different because it refers to the policies of the dominant race/ethnic/gender institutions and the behavior of individuals who control these institutions and implement policies that are intended to have a differential and/or harmful effect on minority race/ethnic/gender groups.” (Pincus, 2000)
An example of individual discrimination would be a parent not allowing their child to play with another child due to that child’s race.
The example of institution discrimination that I am discussing is a recent article involving students from New York University.
At the social work school of NYU, a black student named Shahem Mclaurin, was out of town and needed to FaceTime with someone in their course after obtaining permission from staff to do so. The student contacted various peers in their class and received only one response well after the discussion had taken place. Specifically, part of the response he received stated “I could sense that you had reservations for this class. Although, certainly it was also because I found it easier to lead the discussion without black presence in the room, since I do feel somewhat uncomfortable with the (perceived) threat that it poses.”
Unfortunately, the students in the class assumed that Mclaurin would not be comfortable with the class discussion, due to his race. In turn, this made Mclaurin want to drop out of school. Ultimately, the students worked out the issue, but this isn’t the first and more than likely won’t be the last example of institution discrimination at the social work school of NYU.
Yes, there are discussions that are uncomfortable for all of us, but we should strive to include everyone. Unfortunately, every day we see more and more people lumping different races into different categories. I myself have found that I hesitate including my black friends in conversations that I think may be upsetting to them. I honestly cannot explain why, other than that I’m so afraid of losing my friends. I feel like we fall into the trap of racial discrimination, mostly because of how the media portrays each group. How often have we seen a level-headed activist being interviewed on the news? The media picks and preys on those that will “make a scene”, thus furthering the racial divide in our country.
REFERENCES
Pincus, F. (2000). Discrimination Comes in Many Forms: Individual, Institutional, and Structural. Retrieved April 2, 2019, from https://media.lanecc.edu/users/martinezp/250 CRG/Discrim.pdf
Jaschik, S. (2019, February 15). NYU social work school admits to institutional racism in wake of student email. Retrieved April 02, 2019, from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/02/15/nyu-social-work-school-admits-institutional-racism-wake-student-email
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