#48: No More Discrimination (PART 10)

​【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)
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