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【Action Creates Progress】
The outcome of last year's elections in the US and Japan was a genuine disappointment, allowing us to see through the thoughts, attitudes, and values of many who disregard gender equality and human rights. And this result affects people across the globe. It’s because, around the world, there are many people and children whose futures are closed off simply because they’re women. For example, as you spend a minute reading this blog, more than 20 girls are forced into marriage before the age of 18. Early marriage significantly raises the risk for young girls, often already vulnerable within the family, to face violence, and the risks of health issues caused by early pregnancies/childbirth. Moreover, due to the ignorant notion that “Girls don't need an education,” approximately 129 million girls are unable to attend school. Women forced to abandon their education tend to earn lower incomes, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. What’s more, once married, many wives are subjected to abusive words from their unfair/petty husbands yelling, “Who do you think is putting food on the table!” or, worse yet, to domestic violence. As such, women continue to suffer, even though it’s the male-dominated society that creates this environment in the first place, where women have limited access to education and, therefore, tend to earn low wages. In these ways, women are discriminated simply because they’re women, exposed to double/triple victimization, and have their futures closed off. In light of this injustice, supporting women is supposed to be a duty that “Developed countries” like the US and Japan must take the lead. It’s because “Developed countries” should not only be economically wealthy, but also be “Nice countries” with progressive ideas and ways of thinking. To be sure, a nice country is where more people are practicing a nice person behavior, and a nice person is someone who tries best to accept/help others in real need--even when it’s inconvenient, or at times unpleasant. [See #110] However, the Trump administration and the Liberal Democratic Party administration, both winners in last year's elections, have not only failed to advance gender equality, but also cut support for people suffering injustices, as well as fostered even more discrimination. Their ideas/actions are completely backward that they stand out as blatant cruelty. Given this, it’s unfit to call these countries “Developed” under the current administrations. This reminds us that a society that treats women horribly is not only found amongst radical terrorist groups riddled with extreme misogyny, such as the Taliban in Afghanistan or Boko Haram in Nigeria. Indeed, we can also find them much closer to home. Even then, when men choose to hold women down, force upon them the unjust social norm, and prefer the maintenance of status-quo instead of joining women to lift themselves up. As a responsible adult, that’s awfully shameful. This, we must be fully aware. And when we grasp the sweeping tide of history spanning over hundreds of thousands of years, we surely come to realize that this awareness is expanding. [See #38] Of course, this doesn't just happen on its own. In fact, if nothing is done, nothing will change, and time will simply pass by. This awareness is expanding precisely because the actions of each individual have created progress. And building upon further, we can’t help but embrace infinite hope that more and more nice people with progressive ideas/ways of thinking will continue to take action to advance gender equality. Read Previous: Truth on Gender Equality (5)【What Elections Tell Us】 Complete Series: Truth on Gender Equality (1)～(6) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Read Theme: Discrimination 【Petty Men】
The Global Gender Gap Index reveals the stubborn injustice that there’s not a single nation in the world where it’s gender neutral. Still, too many men insist, “Gender equality has gone too far; we now live in a women-privileged society.” One of the explanations for this may be found in their voices of frustration, “It’s unfair! On the one hand, women say they’re weak so request favors. On the other, women say they’re strong so demand gender equality. Which is it? Decide now!” However, when we take on a grander perspective, we come to realize that, in a sense, men are given an unfair advantage called the Gender Gap at birth. So, when men push women to “Decide now!” it’s more so that he’s being petty before she’s being unfair. One way to look at this is when something is out of balance. In order to bring it to parity, the pendulum swings back and forth, gradually waning in motion as it approaches equilibrium. In the process, at times, the pendulum may happen to swing a little further than expected. Now, let’s suppose that, as a petty man insists, the pendulum happens to swing in favor of women for a moment (we’re only supposing). Even if so, when we honestly admit that injustice has swayed the pendulum in favor of men for as long as the history of mankind, it’s only fair to accept it by extending our empathy/compassion to women who’ve been forced to endure the pain for so long. But make no mistake; as the Global Gender Gap Index shows, the reality is that the pendulum hasn’t yet swung in favor of women. In fact, not even close. Rather, we’re still very far from gender equality, let alone women privilege. As shared in the last post, this was true even more so in Japan at the time of Dazai/Endo, rendering their claims utterly ridiculous. And it’s only fair to say that today’s claim that “We now live in a women-privileged society” is also completely off the mark. To be frank, we have a responsibility to recognize the fact that men are given an unfair advantage at birth, and that unfairness is deeply rooted in our cultures. For example, many cultures have a baked-in notion that “Women don’t need to study so hard,” or “Women don’t have to go out and work so hard,” or “Obedient women are more popular with men/easier to marry than women of high abilities.” Without even saying them out loud, these ideas are so prevalent in our cultures, so much so that not only men but also many women tend to accept them. It’s because they’re baked into our daily lives from an early age, learned from who knows where including parents, relatives, schools, friends, TV, movies, music, and media. And such atmosphere, the tone, the air in our society works the human subconscious to foster a social norm that “This is how women should behave.” And we’re forced to conform to it. Those who conform are understood, praised, supported, and loved. Conversely, those who don’t conform are misunderstood, shunned, abandoned, and hammered down like a nail that sticks out. Often, people are swept away by the tide, while at other times they’re shoved into conformity by blatant discrimination. The terrible truth is that such social norm alienates women who are only wishing for what’s right, what’s fundamental, the very basic equality, just as men and anybody else would. But wrongfully, it often foments hostility against feminism, which paves way to misogyny and male dominance. In this way, knowingly or not, men are given an unfair advantage at birth. Now, some men may exclaim, “But I never asked for an advantage!” Nevertheless, whether we asked for it or not, this is the reality on a global scale. If a man doesn’t take action to remedy this situation, then it means that he either insists “Women are privileged, it’s unfair!” or remains willfully ignorant by looking away, all the while enjoying the unfair advantage given at birth. Talk about unfair, that’s so much more unfair. Even then, when men choose to hold women down, force upon them the unjust social norm, and prefer the maintenance of status-quo instead of joining women to lift themselves up. As a responsible adult, that’s awfully shameful. That’s petty. Read Next: Truth on Gender Equality (3)【Hesitant Women】 Read Previous: Truth on Gender Equality (1)【The Gap】 Complete Series: Truth on Gender Equality (1)～(6) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Read Theme: Discrimination 【The Gap】
“Seeing young women pampered, enjoy ladies-only discounts/specials, smug riding on women-only train cars, make men carry heavy bags, and treated to a fine dinner date all-paid-for. As if that’s not enough, on top of it all when they insist on gender equality, it’s just all too much!” Such voices of frustration are heard here and there, seemingly more so from men in Japan/Asia. What’s particularly startling is that not a small number of men go as far as to say, “Gender equality has gone too far; we now live in a women-privileged society.” And it appears this sentiment can’t simply be dismissed as a recent trend. In fact, nearly a century ago, a nationally popular novelist in wartime Japan called Osamu Dazai voiced a similar frustration, at times using ugly/resentful words. Also, Shusaku Endo, who gained fame a generation after Dazai, toned it down a bit but still voiced bitterness. Considering that these writers are still widely known to this day, it speaks to the fact that the readers back then were fascinated by their opinions, and they resonate with people even today. However, the truth was far from it; actually not even close. To give you an idea, as bizarre as it may sound today, until 1947 under the old civil law in Japan, a legal consent by the head of the household was required for any family member to make their own important life decisions, like whom to marry or where to live. Back then, the head of the household for almost all families was the eldest male, usually either the father or the eldest son who succeeded him. The fact that such an intrusive law was the official law of the land until post-World War II reveals how far the society was from gender equality. What’s more, back in the days, it was quite common for a husband to slap his wife, or hit her on the head. Disturbingly, they called it a “teaching” or “love.” And to our dismay, until around the 1970s, this type of behavior was widely accepted even in pop culture like the manga Sazae-san, an admired family classic since shortly after the war, and popular TV dramas seen by millions of households. And that brings us to today. The law has improved remarkably as it now recognizes domestic violence, indeed a definite step forward. Nonetheless, we certainly don’t register that “Gender equality has gone too far; we now live in a women-privileged society.” Objectively speaking, again, not even close. For example, the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index has annually benchmarked the current state of gender disparities across nearly 150 countries worldwide for almost two decades. It’s a multi-dimensional analysis of economic, educational, political, and health indicators looking at pay, executive positions, labor force participation, school enrollment, number of politicians, and cabinet posts, among many other data points. In its 2024 edition, Japan is ranked 118th, a dismal result for a so-called “developed” country. The reality is that Japan is far behind most Asian countries, including the Philippines (25), Singapore (48), Thailand (65), Vietnam (72), South Korea (94), and China (106). And what’s truly shocking is the fact that even the world's No.1 country doesn’t reach gender parity. That is, there’s not a single nation in the world where it’s gender neutral, let alone women-privileged, reflecting the stubborn injustice baked into our societies. With this in mind, it’s simply ludicrous to say, “Gender equality has gone too far; we now live in a women-privileged society.” In the next post, let’s dig in a little further. Read Next: Truth on Gender Equality (2)【Petty Men】 Complete Series: Truth on Gender Equality (1)～(6) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Read Theme: Discrimination 【Discrimination Doesn’t Exist?】
Certainly in the past, and even today, we hear criticisms that “White people overly dominate the American society.” For those of us living in the US, we’ve probably come across at least a few moments where such sentiments were reminded. Even then, White Americans comprise roughly 59% of the US population. In contrast, a whopping 98% of the population in Japan is comprised of Japanese. Talk about dominance-- we’ve got a massive one in Japan. Here, let’s dig a little deeper into this fact, together with the following actual data, while reflecting on the proud perspectives of “We celebrate diversity,” or “We accept people of all backgrounds,” or as the poet Misuzu Kaneko wrote, “We’re all different, and that makes us all wonderful.” Immigrants welcomed: US 51 million people Japan 3 million or less Refugees welcomed: US 340 thousand Japan 1 thousand Ukrainian Refugees welcomed, prompted by the Russian military aggression (as of 2/2023): US 270 thousand Japan 2 thousand The US is now nearing triple its initial pledge of welcoming 100 thousand Ukrainian refugees. In contrast, Japan, despite demonstrating unprecedented generosity in break from the past, and in spite of winning high praise domestically, the disappointing numbers speak for themselves especially when compared with its global peers. In the recent years, more than ever before, we bump into many technical intern trainees from abroad working and living in various Japanese cities. Nonetheless, they’re strictly enforced to return to their home countries in 3 to 5 years--not allowed to stay in Japan barring rare exceptions. In this way, Japan remains passive in welcoming People of all backgrounds; a very closed society to the outsiders. As if to “Turn them away at the door.” And to “Unjustly exclude/reject people--turn them away at the door--based on an inborn trait” is undeniably a discrimination. It’s a far cry from “Discrimination doesn’t exist much in Japan.” Rather, the truth is “Most of us aren't welcome to stay in Japan because of discrimination.” What’s more, a select few from abroad with permission to stay in Japan--they rarely raise much concern about discrimination. Make no mistake, it’s not because “Discrimination doesn’t exist much in Japan.” Rather, it’s a daunting task for any 2% minority to make their voices heard beneath the overbearing weight of the 98% majority. The terrible truth in Japan is that the minority’s agony--having no choice but to succumb to the sheer force of numbers--often goes unnoticed by the majority because of such overwhelming dominance. From time to time, people say Don’t wake a sleeping baby and mean Better not talk about it; safe to steer clear. Almost as if to willfully ignore the existing tensions of Discrimination. That is, indeed, a prejudiced justification created by the majority. Read Next: Wake a Sleeping Baby (5)【A Baby Within Us】 Read Previous: Wake a Sleeping Baby (3)【Learning is Unnecessary Trouble?】 Complete Series: Wake a Sleeping Baby (1)～(5) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Read Theme: Discrimination 【Learning is Unnecessary Trouble?】
Don’t wake a sleeping baby. This common Japanese wisdom is often invoked to mean: On the one hand, to accurately describe our earnest plea for some rest by not waking a peacefully sleeping baby. But on the other, to deter people from stirring unnecessary trouble by rocking the boat. Same saying; two different meanings. The terrible truth is, not a small number of people consider it “Stirring up unnecessary trouble” to engage in valuable conversations with our youngsters on “Why discrimination is wrong.” We sometimes come across a similar pattern in America, too. For instance, when speaking of African American background, the agony of past slavery and on-going racism cannot be separated from our history. Nevertheless, the states where majority of people still cling to the White privilege, including Tennessee and Idaho, restrict public schools from teaching historical facts that may make White American students feel uncomfortable. Today, US population is comprised of approximately 59% White Americans, 19% Hispanic Americans, 14% African Americans, and 8% others. In contrast, White Americans comprise 73% in Tennessee, and 81% in Idaho. Our society has diversified compared to the past, however, it remains a solid White majority nation. What’s more, the greater the dominance of White majority, we tend to see deeper penetration of the White privilege, and uglier degree of divisiveness fueled by inborn privilege. And while the social rejection of discrimination has advanced significantly compared to the past, yet again, the minorities still can’t avoid the agony of having no choice but to succumb to the sheer force of numbers. Today in Japan, even in this day and age, not a small number of Japanese people profess with a straight face that “Discrimination doesn’t exist much in Japan.” Many consider it “Stirring up unnecessary trouble” to engage in valuable conversations with our youngsters on “Why discrimination is wrong.” If we’re talking only about racism, then perhaps, Japan may see less of it. But make no mistake. It’s not because of the proud reasons like “We celebrate diversity,” or “We accept people of all backgrounds,” or as the poet Misuzu Kaneko wrote, “We’re all different, and that makes us all wonderful.” Regrettably, it’s none of these reasons. Truth be told, it’s almost because of the contrary, that “We’re a very closed society to the outsiders,” as evidenced by its population comprised of roughly 98% Japanese, 2% others. In the next post, let’s dig even deeper on this point. Read Next: Wake a Sleeping Baby (4)【Discrimination Doesn’t Exist?】 Read Previous: Wake a Sleeping Baby (2)【Success-By-Chance is Weak】 Complete Series: Wake a Sleeping Baby (1)～(5) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Read Theme: Discrimination 【Success-By-Chance is Weak】
“Talking about a very large problem such as Discrimination with our youngsters--it’s like teaching our pure children about the human ugliness; like teaching to discriminate.” To be sure, this argument is thoroughly questionable. For one, it can only stand on the premise that “No one will discriminate against anyone, if no one knows anything about discrimination.” Of course, there are instances where no one knew anything, and no one discriminated against anyone. Certainly, this can happen by chance. But make no mistake, this indeed is a chance event. One may ask, “What’s wrong with chance events, let alone a Success-by-chance?” After all, even Shakespeare said, All’s well that ends well. What’s wrong is that a Success-by-chance happens, well, by chance. It means that we don’t know WHY we were successful; we don’t know WHAT made the difference between success and failure. For these reasons, a Success-by-chance is weak. It’s weak because we just don’t know if we can attain the good result again when similar situations arise. It’s weak to simply let luck decide success or failure. And when we contemplate a very large problem in our world such as Discrimination--and especially when we extend our deepest compassion to the heartbroken victims of discrimination--we can’t simply leave it to luck this towering task of eliminating discrimination. Why must we repudiate discrimination? Fundamentally at the core, it’s because discrimination hurts people through unjust exclusion/rejection based on an inborn trait. Not only an illness and a disability, but also race, ethnicity, origin, family, gender, and sexual orientation are among the inborn traits without a choice. Some people are born with an illness or a disability, restraining to freely pursue their passions. Some are born an ethnic minority exposed to cruel injustices. Many just happened to be born to a family mired in poverty. Many just happened to be raised under abusive parents. Others just happened to find themselves all alone as orphans. And yet others are born with a gender identity different from their biological gender. Based on such traits from birth, many people are misconceived as Trouble that escalates into prejudice and discrimination. No matter how desperately we attempt to rationalize by saying, “It’s inevitable at times,” that doesn’t alter the truth that such ignorance must be repudiated. And it’s our responsibility--each and every one of us living here today--to eliminate discrimination. From time to time, people say Don’t wake a sleeping baby and mean Better not talk about it; safe to steer clear. Almost as if to willfully ignore; simply leaving it to luck this towering task of eliminating discrimination. That, indeed, is turning away from our responsibility. The premise that “No one will discriminate against anyone, if no one knows anything about discrimination” is weak. Too weak, in fact, because Not knowing brews Ignorance, which is fertile ground for discrimination. Rather, we must recognize the risk in “Tragedy repeating itself when no one knows anything about discrimination,” and engage in valuable conversations with our youngsters on this sensitive but important topic of “Why discrimination is wrong.” That’s the responsibility, for each and every one of us. Read Next: Wake a Sleeping Baby (3)【Learning is Unnecessary Trouble?】 Read Previous: Wake a Sleeping Baby (1)【Teaching to Discriminate?】 Complete Series: Wake a Sleeping Baby (1)～(5) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Read Theme: Discrimination 【Teaching to Discriminate?】
Don’t wake a sleeping baby. It’s a common saying in Japan, similar in meaning to Let sleeping dogs lie. For those of us who’ve lived together with small babies under one roof, this Japanese wisdom may resonate well. Sleep for a few hours; then wake and play and cry; then sleep again. Indeed, babies are very busy. Certainly, this makes it a challenge to maintain the daily rhythm for those of us around, including parents and siblings. From adults to children; in work, school, and social engagements. Time management has become so important in our modern society, and it gets all the more challenging when our life rhythm falls out of sync. Yet, our babies have no time for that kind of thinking, because their job is to do their best in living and growing. Those of us around will surely yield, so we tend to go sleep deprived. As such, this Japanese wisdom accurately describes our earnest plea for some rest by not waking a peacefully sleeping baby. However, from time to time, we hear this common saying used in a rather different way. It’s sometimes used to deter people from stirring unnecessary trouble by rocking the boat. This could be of matters small and large; under a variety of settings. For example, when talking about a very large problem in our world such as Discrimination, one of the worst plagues of the past and even today. From time to time, people say Don’t wake a sleeping baby and mean Better not talk about it; safe to steer clear. Almost as if to willfully ignore. And this common saying is exploited even when we try to spend some quality time with children through reading books and watching films together that show why discrimination is wrong; as if to deter us from engaging in valuable conversations with our youngsters on this sensitive but important topic. When asked why deter such conversations, the answer comes back, “because it’s like teaching our pure children about the human ugliness; like teaching to discriminate.” The same is true when talking about a very large problem in War. Every so often, people say Don’t wake a sleeping baby and mean Better not talk about it; safe to steer clear. Again, almost as if to willfully ignore. In the next post, let’s dig in a little deeper on this point. Read Next: Wake a Sleeping Baby (2)【Success-By-Chance is Weak】 Complete Series: Wake a Sleeping Baby (1)～(5) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Read Theme: Discrimination 【Fear】
When we see into the future along the path of traditional privilege, we come to realize that the demographics will surely tip it over. That is, the majority will eventually join the minority and thereby lose the traditional privilege. Perhaps, it’s the fear of such inevitable outcome that fuels the anxiety of the fading majority to fight tooth and nail against it at all costs. Nevertheless, let us all think through about this fear. We all know that America was founded as a nation of immigrants. Just go back some 250 years, a vast majority of the people in America were immigrants. Surely, just because we’re now Inside, it doesn’t make it right for us to slam the door shut on the people wishing to enter that same doorway of opportunity we or our own ancestors once walked through. In fact, we should be holding that door open to welcome those who aspire to follow their dreams, instead of slamming it shut behind us. We’d be selfish not to do so. For that matter, is it truly right for the first inhabitants of any place be given a privilege and the newcomers be mistreated? When we elevate ourselves to adopt a broad perspective, we know that mankind was born some 5 million years ago. Grasping this sweeping tide of history, we’re reminded that a vast majority of the people in virtually all countries are immigrants from a place now called Africa. Reflecting on our history, we certainly can’t justify any newcomer be mistreated, as we’re all a product of a newcomer at one point in our own history. That is, a newcomer who’s already entered or wish to enter in the future. And what’s equally true is that we can’t justify a majority be given a privilege while a minority be mistreated, as history has repeatedly proven such obsolete pattern won’t help us attain global peace. It’s because most people naturally possess the desire to Live my life the way I want. And naturally, no one wishes to be discriminated against. Truth be told, the fear of the fading majority has no place to bud if the majority had always treated the minority without discrimination. Then and now, a Majority preference is the norm of our society, and many people, knowingly or not, mistreat the minority. As a result, the fading majority fears the loss of its traditional privilege. Perhaps, it’s because no member of the majority wants to be mistreated in such a way. As a matter of fact, nobody does. Nonetheless, have we truly acknowledged the fact that such mistreatment of the minority is forced upon by the majority, of which we’re a part? “Yes, indeed, I’m a member of the majority. But I was just born into the majority, and I’ve never discriminated against the minority,” many people may say. If so, then it’s imperative that we don’t allow ourselves to remain comfortable under the umbrella of a Majority preference – that we actively strive to prevent and eliminate discrimination. Even if it were a passive acceptance, it’s nonetheless an acceptance of the social structure that breeds discrimination. And, no matter how insignificant we feel each of ours may be, the accumulation of our passive acceptances is collectively the sustaining force behind Discrimination beyond generations, across time, and throughout the world. Martin Luther King, Jr., the leader of the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, nailed this point as he demanded that the government and American people honor the promises of Declaration of Independence – We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace, which is the absence of tension, to a positive peace, which is the presence of justice . . . The ultimate tragedy of Birmingham was not the brutality of the bad people, but the silence of the good people. For us to not allow ourselves become the “good people” who remain silent under the umbrella of a Majority preference. For us to truly feel neutral and impartial whether we’re a majority or a minority, we must change our society which has for too long baked in a preferential treatment for the majority group. To actively strive to eliminate the traditional privileges so that we can make our world a fair place for all. To welcome people of all backgrounds and to accept our differences. To cooperate together for the better tomorrow of each and every one of us. It’s because wherever we are on our life’s journey, we can be better tomorrow. As human beings, it’s our responsibility to help one another. It’s our duty as a citizen of humanity to cherish everyone’s rights, to celebrate our diversity, and to strive for peace. To that end, what’s most important is not the person’s place of birth, nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation or medical condition. Rather, it’s to see the individual as who s/he is and to engage with honesty and sincerity. When we truly do so, we will prevent and eliminate discrimination. Read Previous: No More Discrimination (11)【Traditional Privilege】 Complete Series: No More Discrimination (1)～(12) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] Read Theme: Discrimination 【Traditional Privilege】
Proudly showcasing the handsome facade of justice on the surface, while slyly hiding the ugly intentions of preserving injustice. That is, suppressing the hidden tensions that already exist, only to present Order on the outside. It’s because we, knowingly or not, presume that the majority gets to decide the norm and what’s common sense, and that the minority has no choice but to acquiesce. Ever since the ancient times, our society has baked in such preferential treatment for the majority group – a traditional privilege. And when we see into the future along the path of that traditional privilege, we come to realize that the demographics will surely tip it over. That is, the majority will eventually join the minority and thereby lose the traditional privilege. Perhaps, it’s the fear of such inevitable outcome that fuels the anxiety of the fading majority to fight tooth and nail against it at all costs. For countries such as Japan, where nearly 98% of the population is comprised of the Japanese race, that future still appears so far in the distant future. Nonetheless, a traditional privilege is so deeply rooted in its culture that it can’t be ignored. On the contrary, for countries such as the US, that future is already at our doorstep. Back when racial discrimination was abhorrent in the 1960’s, the US population was comprised of 85% White American – today, it’s 63%. And it’s now widely predicted that White Americans will join the minority groups within a generation or so, making America a country comprised of only minority races. Today, Hawaii is the only US state comprised of only minority races. No wonder the Aloha State is proudly known not only for its beautiful beaches and nature, but also for its diversity and tolerance. Naturally, a paradise is made of acceptance and love. Yet, when we revisit the history of humanity, we come across the dark chapters of racism including white supremacy. And it’s a terrible truth that the ugly scraps from those darkest days are still promoted in this day and age by the Trump Administration and its enablers – whether it be the deportation of immigrants, the denial of asylum seekers, or the voter suppression. Nevertheless, in midst of this shameful reversal of the history back multiple generations, many American citizens and states – who truly support the principles of humanitarian aid and human rights – resist such racism and bigotry. For example, many people of El Salvador and Honduras – Central American countries gripped by one of the highest intentional homicide rates in the world – desperately flee from their homes leaving everything behind. They didn’t do anything wrong. They’re just born there, just like you and I were just born here. The only difference is that we’re lucky and they weren’t – to be born into such difficulty where life is at a constant danger. In hopes of safety and a better life, the displaced people walk thousands of miles on their tired feet without much food or water, many losing their lives on their way. And at last they reach America, once a beacon of hope and freedom for the asylum seekers – only to find the cruel border agents of the Trump Administration caging babies and children, separating them from parents and guardians, calling them the “Invaders.” Cruelty isn’t only at the borders – discrimination extends well into the heart of the nation even against fellow Americans. For instance, voters are suppressed just because they live in districts heavily populated by minorities, or districts mired in poverty. In such districts, eligible voters are prevented from exercising our right to vote by closing many polling places, which result in the voters having to travel an extra few hundred miles just to cast a ballot. Moreover, such districts are often underfunded and furnished with fewer voting machines or old ones that break down more often, all of which result in longer lines and wait times to cast a ballot. People struggling in poverty are especially vulnerable, because they often don’t own a car. And because these polling places in such districts often aren’t easily accessible via public transportation, people without a car must pre-arrange other means of transportation to and from. In addition, a pre-arrangement is also required in the form of voter registration and ID, which present high hurdles especially for those struggling in poverty. And even when all these prerequisites are fortunately met, on the day of the election, it could take up to 3 hours to travel to the polling place, and up to 8 more hours standing in line outside of the polling station to cast a ballot – not to mention a ride back. It seems as though in almost every election, we come across these horror stories of people standing long hours in the miserable rain on a very cold November afternoon just to exercise our right to vote. What’s more, Election Day in the US is set as a Tuesday in November, and it’s not a designated federal holiday. As such, many people, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck, must miss work without pay, and spend a maximum 14 hours to travel and back from the polling places including the wait in line, in order to exercise our right to vote. No wonder so many people who live in such districts can’t spend that kind of time, and are thereby effectively disenfranchised. The government of the self-proclaimed “World Champion of Democracy” shouldn’t be doing this to their people. Yet, in any country, a discriminatory policy is never advertised as such. No administration admits to We’re a racist or bigot when pushing forward with such policies. It’s because even Those who discriminate know that Discrimination is shameful and disgusting. Instead, they proudly showcase the handsome facade on the surface by professing We must enforce the law or We must protect our people, while slyly hiding the ugly intentions of preserving a traditional privilege. Such discriminatory policies are the newest dark chapters in the US history being written today by the Trump Administration and its enablers. The approval ratings for such cruel administration has generally hovered around 40% over the last 2 years, with disapproval ratings around 50%. Among White male, who perhaps enjoy the most traditional privilege in the US, approximately 60% support Trump. What’s more, among those who say their identity as a White American is extremely important, Trump’s support reach above 80%. On the contrary, among White Americans who say their racial identity is of little importance, less than 5% voice support for Trump. Evidently, the support for Trump rise in tandem with the embrace of white identity. What these numbers visibly suggest is the true intention of the majority – that is, to defend to the end their traditional privilege even by suppressing the minorities. And right through it, we can see the fading majority’s fear of losing their traditional privilege. Read Next: No More Discrimination (12)【Fear】 Read Previous: No More Discrimination (10)【Reverse Discrimination】 Complete Series: No More Discrimination (1)～(12) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] Read Theme: Discrimination 【Reverse Discrimination】
While engaging in conversations about the problems of discrimination, we often come across the same two words. Yes, that is, to give a preferential treatment to the minority group so much so that the majority group is now subjected to discrimination. Reverse discrimination is yet another variation of merely having “Those who discriminate” and “Those who are discriminated” trade places – but this time, without changing who’s in the majority or minority. And truth be told, whether it’d be discrimination or the reverse, people will be hurt nonetheless through unjust exclusion or rejection based on a trait that they’re born with. That’s precisely why neither will serve to be a permanent solution nor can be condoned. Nevertheless, when we carefully read between the lines, we’re often disheartened to notice that people who use the words Reverse discrimination do so not as a repudiation of discrimination. In truth, more often than not, the real intentions seem elsewhere. That is, ever since the ancient times, our society has baked in a preferential treatment for the majority group. And rather than to amend this unfair favoritism so we can make our world a fair place for all, to instead defend to the end this Majority preference under the slogan Reverse Discrimination! Indeed, we come across quite a few people who, knowingly or not, proudly showcase the handsome facade of justice on the surface while slyly hiding the ugly intentions of preserving injustice. A clear example of this can be seen in the gender pay gap. To be sure, it’s an undeniable fact that a preferential treatment for men is embedded in our social and economic foundations. With our history and cultures serving as a backdrop, the customary practices and traditional gender roles are rooted so deeply within our social fabric. That is, by and large, men work outside and women care inside the home. Such majority mentality is still prevalent across the world even today. So much so that many women still face an insurmountable challenge to find a level playing field when working outside of home, regardless of how talented they may be. Statistics point to this fact as well. For example, in the US, the average woman’s salary is 82% of that of man’s, according to the US Department of Labor. That means for each man’s $50,000 salary, each woman only gets paid $41,000. In Japan, this percentage is even lower at 75%, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). And it’s not only in the US and Japan. In fact, in all 41 countries that took part in this OECD study, without a single exception, the average woman’s salary is lower than that of man’s. What these numbers tell us loud and clear is the fact that women across the world are hurt through unjust exclusion or rejection based on a trait that they were born with. How do we prevent and eliminate such widespread discrimination? That is, by paying and promoting women as equally as men when they show similar results in similar work. This by no means is a Reverse discrimination or Trading places of men and women. Rather, it’s simply to pay and promote equally for similar results in similar work regardless of who you are. Quite frankly, it’s just basics. Nevertheless, some people choose to fight tooth and nail against this basics by alleging Reverse discrimination! Such argument usually goes like this: Any given company’s coffers are limited, so if we give a pay raise to a female employee, then it’ll result in someone else’s pay cut. And when that someone else is a male employee, then it’s “Reverse discrimination!” Typically, such argument entirely disregards the fact that the female employee might be making 18% less than the male employee to begin with. And the same pattern of argument is used for promotions, too: Since there’s only a limited number of management positions available in a given company, for the similar reason, it’s “Reverse discrimination!” to promote a female employee. And we come across these allegations of Reverse discrimination! often surrounding gender and race, especially when the coveted spots in college and job acceptances are on the line. Nevertheless, let us all think through on this issue now. If it’s indeed a Reverse discrimination! to pay and promote equally for similar results in similar work so we can resolve and eliminate the discrimination that already exists today, then that’ll only leave us with no other choice than to maintain the existing unequal remuneration for similar results in similar work. And it’ll only leave us with no other choice than to preserve the existing Majority preference and to continue to hurt people through unjust exclusion or rejection based on a trait that they were born with. For us to extend our deepest empathy to the people who are hurt based on a trait from birth. And for us to eliminate discrimination and attain global peace. If we truly wish to turn these ideals into a reality, then let each and every one of us have the courage to be the ones who change the injustices of today. Read Next: No More Discrimination (11)【Traditional Privilege】 Read Previous: No More Discrimination (9)【Even if Within Bounds】 Complete Series: No More Discrimination (1)～(12) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] Read Theme: Discrimination |
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