I Have a Dream Blog Posts

Emily Locke-Paddon, Period 1

Assignment: Create 9 blog posts depicting my dream

Due: March 2

Disclaimer: All pictures were 'labeled for reuse with modification' and were put together by me.

My Dream: That people will stop discriminating and will instead accept people for who they are and what they believe in.

Sexism / Gender Discrimination

Sexism or gender discrimination is discrimination that is based on a person's sex or gender, especially against women. Discrimination because of gender takes many forms. Some of these forms include sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, and unequal pay for women who do the same jobs as men. There is no excuse for a women to be paid less when she does the same job as a man. It may also include the belief that one sex or gender is superior to another. Some religions, like Islam, teach that a women is worth less than a man. Women should not get unfair treatment simply because of their gender. A simple solution to sexism/gender discrimination would be to see everyone as the same and treat them fairly. 

Religion Discrimination

Religion discrimination has also been a big issue in our world today. People of different religious beliefs often do not get along because of their differences. Around the world, people are being killed or tortured for believing in a certain religion. Christian missionaries, as well as the people that they converted to Christianity, have been the target of persecution. Christian missionary organization Open Doors estimates 100 million Christians face persecution, particularly in Muslim-dominated countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. According to the International Society for Human Rights, up to 80% of acts of persecution are directed at people of the Christian faith. Everyone has different beliefs and it is important to accept the different beliefs and opinions and not hate against them. 

Same-Sex Relationship Discrimination

Currently, same-sex marriage and gay rights have been a very controversial topic. Many people believe that marriage should be between a man and a women and are therefore acting towards them in hatred. Just because you don't have the same beliefs has someone, it doesn't mean you can act towards them in a negative way. I hope that one day, people who oppose gay rights will be able to overlook the 'fault' and accept same-sex marriage.

Racism / Race Discrimination

Race discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because he/she is of a certain race or of certain skin color complexion. In the 1860's, slavery and racism was a problem and Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to end this problem. Even after the making of this proclamation, racial discrimination wasn't fixed. During the 1950's and 60's, African Americans had segregated bathrooms, water fountains, they couldn't vote, and were thought of as less than a white person. Today, racism is not as big of a problem but it is still happening on the down low. Accepting people for who they are would make this problem and many others be non-existent.

Weight Discrimination

Weight discrimination is often seen in the adolescent and teenage years. Media, and even fellow peers, give the idea that certain weights are not acceptable. This can lead to serious disorders and health problems such as Anorexia and Bulimia. A new survey of teenagers in weight-loss programs found that 64 percent had been teased or bullied because of their weight. Weight is not a factor that defines someone or changes their inner qualities. If everyone looked past outward appearance and accepted people for who they are inside, problems like these wouldn't exists.  

Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination is a another form of discrimination that has to do with gender. Women are too often fired from or forced out of jobs when their employers learn that they are pregnant. If a woman is temporarily unable to perform her job due to a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, the employer MUST treat her in the same way as it treats any other temporarily disabled employee. For example, the employer may have to provide light duty, alternative assignments, or disability leave to pregnant employees if it does so for other temporarily disabled employees. However, some employers force pregnant workers off the job by refusing to grant them these temporary modifications. Bearing a child is a blessing and pregnant women should not have to face loosing their job because of it. 

Ableism / Disability Discrimination

Disability discrimination is when someone is treated less favorably because of a disability than someone without a disability would be treated in the same circumstances. An example of disability discrimination is not being hired because of your disability. An example of disability discrimination outside of the workplace is making jokes about someone's disability. Everyone should be accepting to disabled people because they are just like us, except they have different/harder circumstances. A disability should not and does not lower someone's worth. 

Ageism

Ageism is stereotyping and discriminating against individuals because of their age. The term is also used to describe discrimination against teenagers and children, including ignoring their ideas because they are too young or assuming that they should behave in certain ways because of their age. Older people usually experience age discrimination when trying to be employed. People over a certain age are often seen as less useful in the work place because of their age. Age discrimination in employment can include not interviewing someone because they are too young or too old to ‘fit in’ with other staff, not employing mature workers because it’s assumed that they’ll soon retire or are not as useful, or forcing someone to retire, because of their age. Age does not affect someone's abilities or skills and should not be a huge factor in employment. Accepting people for who they are would make this problem and many others go away.

Classism / Social Ranking

Classism is different and unfair treatment based on social class. Often, people who make up the lower classes are seen as poorly educated and then looked at differently because of their rank. A recent poll by Equalities in Health Organization showed that poor people in particular think that class, not ability, greatly affects the way they are seen. Wealth and social class should not determine or affect the way someone is seen and is not a representation of someone's abilities. If no social classes existed, everyone would be accepted for their qualities and who they are and not where they are on the social ranking.

I Have a Dream Blog Posts

Assignment: Create 9 blog posts depicting my dream

Due: March 2

My Dream: That people will stop discriminating and will instead accept people for who they are and what they believe in.