-
Essay / Issues of Racism and Sexism in the Workplace Today
The workplace is a place where millions of Americans spend 8 to 10 hours a day completing their daily tasks in order to support their needs and those of their families. Many companies across the country have strict rules and guidelines when it comes to diversity in the workplace and how their employees should act. Of course, these rules are made so that the world can see that some companies care about the racism and sexism that persists around the world. Making the public understand and feel relieved that some companies care about these issues is a great way to mislead the public. Racism and sexism persist in the majority of workplaces in the United States, according to surveys and personal testimonies from victims from the West Coast to the East Coast. Evidence shows that mistreatment of minorities still occurs in the workplace today. Gender inequality is also a cancer in the workplace, with women usually being the ones affected by it. The treatment of women in the workplace has come a long way, but there is still a long way to go before the treatment of women in the workplace changes. Racism and sexism remain factors in the workplace that must be changed in order to improve the work environment for millions of Americans. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the Original EssayThe United States of America was literally built on the backs of African slaves in the Confederate South between the 17th and 19th centuries century. During this time period, racism was in every era and these values were ingrained in people to think that the mindset of hating or believing that you are better than the minority was true and powerful. People learn these things from mainstream media, their parents, and their peers. In 2019, in the 21st century, racism remains a cancer plaguing the United States. Racism begins when people encourage and support racist behavior. However, what are the chances that a company can determine whether someone is racist or not? Nine times out of ten, an interviewer will not detect racist behavior in a potential candidate for a vacancy. According to this thesis, companies do not know that their workplace is full of people from racist backgrounds, because they will not display this kind of behavior during an interview. Women of color face racism and discrimination in the workplace every day, especially Black women. There was a time in American history when women, even if they were white, did not even have access to positions in the workplace. There was a time when the workplace was completely dominated by men. It was a time when the man was the primary breadwinner in the majority households in the country. The wife or wife primarily stayed at home and took care of these responsibilities while the man was at work. It is now 2019 and not 1955, American women have transformed the workplace due to their growing presence within many businesses and corporations across the country. Racism in the workplace is a difficult topic to discuss, whether you're an employee or a manager, but this conversation needs to be sparked in order to find ways to prevent racism among women of color in the workplace. Racism and sexism are two of the biggest issues in the workplace because living in a country built onthis basis increases the chances that this behavior and mindset will spread into the workplace. Employees cannot sit idly by and wait for management or the company to step in and change the work environment. It is the employees who must drive change and make the right people aware that this behavior is happening within their company and that change needs to be put on the table. For example, the recent teacher strikes that took place across the country were started by the employees. Even though their case was about pay and benefits, the employees took it upon themselves to change their workplace. Sexuality and the workplace are two different entities that should not coincide because the workplace is not a place for sexual behavior. Homosexuality is a sensitive topic in the workplace. Most companies ensure that homophobia is neither allowed nor tolerated in their workplace, but there is of course still a presence of homophobia in the workplace today. Ultimately, no matter how a person chooses to live their life, respect as a human being should always be the priority. Understanding a person's history and background may explain their actions toward certain people in the workplace, but it does not justify their actions or remarks toward people who live the way they live. As employees, they need to understand that we are all here to do a job and that anything they do outside of the workplace is no one's business but their own. When it comes to racism, gender inequality and homophobia in the workplace, it is very important to find a way to solve this problem. First of all, change starts with the employees themselves, as everyone should be held accountable for the actions that take place in certain workplaces. Many employees find allies among their colleagues to determine who supports them and who does not. It is quite easy to determine the mindset and behaviors of individuals who will not ally with those affected by racism, sexism and homophobia. Holding people accountable for their actions will produce the change some want to see in their workplace. At some point enough is enough and the appropriate steps must be taken so that the appropriate changes are made to eliminate all racist and sexist people within the company. Of course, some people choose to remain silent about their workplace trials and experiences. These select few individuals are provided with hotlines and other resource channels to deal with such behaviors that occur and directly affect them. Understanding a person's privacy should be respected at all times and doing things secretly and privately is simply their choice. This is why some companies across the country offer these forms of therapy to their employees. Minorities in the workplace face discrimination every day. Whether from co-workers or management, disappointing actions should be banned in the workplace. Being prejudiced against someone or a group of people is a trait common to many Americans. Unfortunately, some people are unaware that they display characteristics of prejudice, whether in the way they communicate or simply in the way they view others. Some aspects of the workplace won't change anytime soon if employees wait for someone else to step in and save them from discrimination. The problem of thefight against discrimination and its success lies in the values of American society. Living in a country that struggles with racism and discrimination outside of the workplace will eventually cause it to seep into the workplace because the people who work there live outside of work. Who knows what some of our colleagues do outside of work, but it's quite possible that their actions outside still reverberate inside, because he or she is not the only one participating in racist events and discriminatory. Discrimination in the workplace destroys the integrity of many businesses. When reports of racism and discrimination begin to arise within certain companies, these reports often lead to a loss in performance and overall success of those companies. In an age where everything is being achieved, mainly due to the technological advancements of the last decade, reports of discrimination and racism are constantly being reported because this change needs to happen in the workplace. Stereotyping is a dangerous way of assuming a person's actions or thoughts based on the situation. There are thousands of stereotypes associated with all kinds of people from all walks of life. The problem with stereotypes is that they always come up in conversation. However, these conversations can take place in the workplace and disrespect the person the stereotype is associated with. We live in a time where people are not as harsh as they used to be; some would say the United States has become soft on a few issues. People are hypersensitive these days and certain stereotypical phrases, observations and comments could leave a colleague feeling sad. “Being black” in the workplace is truly an uphill battle for the majority of black people working in corporate America. The battle between remaining silent and speaking out is a common battle most employees face. On a daily basis, black people are reminded who they are and where they come from in the eyes of the majority. However, these views are often misinterpreted by the majority and the minority must act in a certain way for this stereotypical observation to be wrong and broken. The difficult part of this workplace problem is that many coworkers see the world differently than how the minority experiences it. For example, workplace conversations are slippery slopes, especially when the topic is controversial. An example of a controversial topic would be the general treatment of black people by law enforcement. For some, minorities, this topic of conversation is important and vital to finding a solution for black and brown people. However, the majority feel like the topic is not that important and will be quick to change the topic because it is not “workplace appropriate.” Negative stereotypes about specific groups of people force certain individuals to act a certain way, because 9 times out of 10 the majority will use a certain stereotype against you. Sexism is a phenomenon that has existed since the dawn of time. By definition, sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex or gender. Sexism can affect anyone, but it mainly affects women and girls. It has been linked to stereotypes and gender roles and can include the belief that one sex or gender is inherently superior to another. For example, “Go back to the kitchen” is a sexist, offensive and stereotypical comment that should never be directed to any woman. However, expressions like these find.