Reply to the below post in 300-400 words. The reply must include at least 3 scholarly sources (published within the last 5 years) in addition to the course textbook (attached) and relevant biblical integration. All citations and references must be in the current APA format. Do not repeat the same sources as the original post, use of the text, or Biblical integration.
Questions: In a world that is quick to state discrimination has taken place, there is a new discrimination emerging (i.e., reverse discrimination). Is this form of discrimination really discrimination? What diversity practices would you put in place to prevent any kind of discrimination?
Discrimination can be defined as “the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex”, according to the Oxford dictionary. Discrimination in the workplace can take place in many forms. Discrimination in itself occurs fairly often, whether it is due to race, religion, sex, etc. Many articles released in 2020 state that COVID-19 could have caused a rise in discrimination against marginalized populations. International pandemics often highlight inequalities in the labor market. The last few years have definitely impacted individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds as well as women and people of color. “In a nutshell, they are the most vulnerable of the U.S. population to be laid off without income. In contrast, many of the jobs that allow for work from home accommodations are often white-collar, professional jobs that include health benefits, paid sick leave, and decent wages” (Kantamneni, 2020). However, “many individuals are thought to be partly driven by beliefs that white people face discrimination in societies that supposedly favour non-white people” (Earle & Hodson, 2020). Over a multitude of studies and articles read, the research repeatedly states that white people consistently experience far less discrimination than black people. Also, it is evident that the decrease in discrimination against black people does not coincide with the increase of discrimination of white people. Black people and democrats have expressed their beliefs that black people experience much more discrimination, whereas white people and republicans express beliefs that the gap between the discrimination is not that drastic. One article reveals that overall, improvements for black people do not seem to coincide with disadvantages for white people. Many claims of “reverse discrimination” are made from white men who come from a higher socioeconomic background and individuals from traditionally advantaged groups. What people are reportedly claiming to be “reverse discrimination” seems to be an effect of “programs and policies intended to increase the fairness of organizations and promote the inclusion, hiring, retention, and promotion of underrepresented groups” (Dover, et al., 2019). These organizational diversity initiatives could lead to a presumption of fairness for underrepresented groups, closing the gap of discrimination. However, those same initiatives may also lead to “the presumption of unfairness for members of overrepresented groups, increasing the likelihood that traditionally advantaged groups will perceive themselves as victims of discrimination”, according to one article. The presence of diversity initiatives may increase the attractiveness of organizations to underrepresented groups who anticipate inclusion, but increase felt exclusion and threat among overrepresented groups. Individuals forming these inclusive initiatives should be aware of the unintended effects and move forward with more accountability and social psychological knowledge when implementing said initiatives. Mark 12:31 states, “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (ESV).
References
Earle, M., Hodson, G. Questioning white losses and anti-white discrimination in the United States. Nat Hum Behav 4, 160–168 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0777-1 (Links to an external site.)
Kantamneni, N. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marginalized populations in the United States: A research agenda. Journal of vocational behavior, 119, 103439.
The Holy Bible. 2004. English Standard Version. https://www.openbible.info/topics/equality
