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DISCRIMINATION - A DENIAL OF OPPORTUNITY
Marian Baltazar
Class of 1980, University of the Philippines College of Manila
AB Political Science
When people start to become biased and prejudiced, then discrimination takes place and there is clearly a
denial of opportunity for other persons to be able to prove themselves. We begin treating others unequally and
there is no fair treatment given to people. There is that tendency to stick with people who are similar to us and
we avoid those who are different. At times it seems understandable when you are comfortable with people like
you. But when you avoid others who are different, those whom you don’t really know what people are like, and
we make generalizations about them based on very little knowledge, we actually have pre-judgments called
prejudices.
Every adult can actually experience discrimination at work. Most of the time discrimination can prevent a
person from getting a well-paid job and from having or developing professional skills. Almost always it creates a
negative effect causing negative consequences on a person’s self-esteem, motivation, health and social status.
It is obvious that discrimination at work shows a denial of opportunity. Therefore, it should not be tolerated so
as to allow an individual to make use of its own rights and freedom and not by restricting them.
Being biased and prejudiced will clearly result in denial of opportunity, meaning it will result to unfair
treatment regarding selection, promotion or transfer. Actually, we can equate discrimination with inequality. It
is more likely an unequal treatment towards one or more parties on the basis of some other logical or illogical
reasons. As a matter of fact, discriminated people are being called derogatory names aside from the fact that
they have been treated in unfairly ways. They have been treated unfairly in all the aspects of life itself and
sometimes even to the point of being brutalized physically.
Apparently, there is a truth to the fact that discrimination is an action that treats people in an unfair manner
especially if they are a member of a particular social group. There are even the so-called “different” or ethnic
groups which are prevented from earning the same wages. These lower earnings prevent these people from
living in a decent manner. It is a fallacy that all these discriminatory behaviors don’t show impartiality and yet it
can take its many forms. Even if you try to see it in different aspects, they all involve some form of exclusion or
rejection.
In general, we can assess that discrimination is caused by unreasonable feelings, opinions or attitudes,
especially of a hostile nature. But the real truth lies in the fact that in reality, discrimination occurs in the heart.
Sometimes you wonder why people do not like certain people for no reason at all. At times you don’t like the
way they act, the way they live, the way they walk and many more that we can think of. People do not like
people for different things simply because it’s all in the mind and in the heart. So let us not allow discrimination
to rule over us for it maybe a denial of opportunity for the people around us.
Questions for discussion:
1.
Do you approve of discriminating people just because they don’t come up with your expectations? Why or
why not?
2.
Do you agree that discrimination is an act of denial? In what way is it or is not an act of denial?
3.
Have you been prejudiced in any kind of situation? Cite that instance/those instances.
4.
Have you experienced discrimination? When and how?
5.
Are you always hostile to the people whom you dislike to the point of discriminating them? Explain your
answer.