Racial Discrimination in Health care Against Blacks in Tennesee
Introduction
Racial discrimination has been present in humankind ever since the conception of the word discrimination. The term racialism is a term which is a derivative of the term racism. Racialism is a term which is meant to soften the negative connotations associated with the term racism. Both terms represent the belief that a certain race is either inferior or superior to other races because of certain traits that they possess (2007). According to UN International Conventions “the term “racial discrimination” shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.” (1966).
Discrimination and prejudice studies have constantly been conducted and published for decades and they have indicated that such occurrences are a reality among minorities. Racial discrimination has been a staple of minority groups throughout the ages. In the work setting, racial discrimination topics have been a staple in organizational studies. (1995) Even in instances where minorities are to engage in recreational activities, they are hounded by certain prejudice by the majority. ( 1998) Even at the time when these people intend to have fun, they are pursued by such unfair treatment. Though this does not justify that minorities engage in criminal activities, one must recognize that even if they start complying with rules, the existing society wields everything that is not fair on their midst.
Discussion
Being a part of a minority group implies a degree of inequity right away. Meaning there is an inherent disadvantage that one acquires to the moment he/she considers himself/herself a part of the minority. This has been the problem in any state with a highly diverse population. Though it is primarily seen in the United States, this situation is not restricted to its boundaries. This takes place in Europe and Asia. (1995,2004) Thus, this establishes it as a universal phenomenon.
In the context of the United States, the minority groups in business are seen to have to deal with permanent “economic barriers.” (1998) This is seen in the study of (1998) where African-American business people in Chicago eventually succumbed to the corporations owned and controlled by the dominant white business people in the state. Seen in this situation, even as minority groups try so hard as to work with the system, they end up losing and being eaten up by the dominant group.
The racial situation in society presents an unending and universal predicament that screams for its resolution. This issue transcends mere calls for legal change. As . said, he did not be set his deeds to defy the legality and authenticity of the US or the rule of law but merely the moral appropriateness of the law under consideration. (1963) Representation of minority in the health care system seemingly is fair as the majority, however, evidence shows that minorities do not get the same treatment as “whites”. Authorities call for compliance to the imposed law but there seems to be an existing paradox in this scenario. The thing about legitimacy and compliance is that the most natural thing an individual is to regard whether a certain aspect demanding a legitimate compliance is whether they deem it just. It is for this matter that this paper calls for not as much as changes in the existing laws to favor the minority but for fairness in the implementation of laws. In this way every single individual in society does his fair share in complying and establishing the legitimacy of the rule of law.
Health care settings
Basically, affirmative action is a policy presented in organizations pertaining to the equal opportunity of the minorities with the dominant classes in society. The issue of affirmative action is problematic considering that it is indistinguishable with mere preferential treatment of a certain group of individuals. To this end, affirmative action is merely a glorified version of preferential treatment. (1998) Preferential treatment is essentially wrong so as other concerns cannot cause it to be morally reasonable. Preferential treatment is morally erroneous unerringly akin to discrimination. Consequently, to contend that preferential treatment can be morally reasonable if it has respectable social outcomes is in the vein of saying that discrimination can be morally acceptable if it has good social end results. This is obviously wrong; discrimination would still be erroneous even supposing it essentially encouraged usefulness or some other social nobility. Likewise, preferential treatment is morally wrong in spite of its end results. Preferential treatment, consistent with this less categorical account is similar to discrimination and thus erroneous in no less than a single context. That is to say, both preferential treatment and discrimination depend on immaterial characteristics, which is morally offensive. This does not denote, nevertheless, that preferential treatment essentially is wrong all things measured, as other concerns may make a preferential treatment policy (such as affirmative action) acceptable in any case.
This could be viewed philosophically through Kant’s and Mill’s perspective, Kantianism states that an action is considered moral if it is carried out for the benefit of duty and if its principle can be considered as a common norm. ( 2000.) Kantianism can consequently be perceived as a rational and commonsensical premise in which judgments can be completed. Utilitarianism (Mill’s), alternatively, would merely perceive the action as ethically allowable if the cost of that deed generates maximum utility and happiness for all concerned. (2001) Utilitarianism has no general collection of rules on to which morality is anchored. Thus, the issue of affirmative action in policing would fall on these arguments. Would hiring an individual for a position of power (given in the police force) be for the good of the many or should it be a question on who actually best fit the post?
At any rate, whether employment in a law enforcement organization or a commercial establishment, programs like affirmative go against the rights of an individual. Either the fundamental right of the personnel who is most eligible for a specific job to occupy that position, or the right of the managers and company owners to employ whoever they believe is most capable for the job they have offered. It would be complicated to defend the standpoint that the personnel have a right to that work for which they happen to be even preferably fitting. Even though it could be reasonably contended that employees or employers have certain rights which are endangered by affirmative action, rights are by no means definite. Concern of the utmost good, or reverence for more basic rights or responsibilities, customarily permits acceptable limitations on the rights of people in society. Affirmative action limits the police force’s right to hire individuals at will. It is a position of public service, thus merit should be taken into consideration, not values of affirmative action. Nonetheless, this limitation is necessary for the reason that it points to the greater good, a society liberated from unreasonable discrimination.
In general, it would be ideal for law enforcement organizations to implement a racially neutral set of strategy. Specifically, the laws pinpointing to the equality in health care service should be equally implemented in all individuals, regardless of color, race, gender, status and behavior. Policies should focus more on providing programs that will deter racial discrimination and even serve as a means for these health service personels to comply with the existing laws. In the operational level, law enforcement organizations should try to establish first that the personnels or the hospital in an area really do discriminate against the minorities, specifically the blacks and consequently create a profile of its members. After these they should appoint individuals who could relate closely to these people. This indicates a practical approach in dealing with these people who do not comply with the legislations on equality. In this manner, the policies will not present any discriminatory implications.
Factors that Greatly Contribute to Racial Discrimination
The factors that contribute to racial discrimination in health care settings are located in almost every aspect of the social ladder. The following describes the factors that contribute greatly to discriminatory acts committed by the cultural majority:
Ø Economic and Social Factors – The negative consequences concerning the social and economic development push many people to discriminate against other people, especially people with color. Economic crises and instability of social institutions often are the key factors why most people are affected by discrimination. When people are poor, they are oftentimes not given the proper treatment, though they are entitled to health care services, this is even more evident when the poor civilian in question is part of the minority group.
Ø Cultural Factors – the breaking down of cultural norms brought about by changes and shifts in the society. This occurrence may cause some members of the society to respond to the changes in a negative manner. These members may respond through rebellious acts, violence and criminal activity. Furthermore, cultural difference may spell differences in other aspects. This can cause rifts among people of different races., especially if the other race thinks that he is far more superior than the other, or he thinks of the other as inherently inferior. This mode of thinking often leads to the belief that “whites” don’t serve “blacks”, “blacks” serve “whites”.
Ø Family – Family structures do have an effect on discrimination. Family beliefs and cultures affect the mindset of everyone in the family. How a family views a certain issue can often influence how they react to that issue.
Ø Migration – Immigrants have a very different culture from the people to which they would want to migrate in, therefore, their actions to the native people may seem very different thus resulting to racial discrimination. Indifference and negative perception towards these immigrants may cause further discrimination, not only for the blacks but also for other members of the immigrant society as well.
Ø The Media – Media give out different view point of violent behaviors to viewers, especially children. The use of violence to “uphold justice” is often the topic of shows that many children watch. The society tolerates this type of violence since it seems to be on the positive side of the situation. But studies have shown that these violent behaviors in the media often influence impressionable children ages between 8 and 9 are easily influenced by such behaviors and shows. Furthermore, more often than not, the racial minorities are often depicted as the “baddies”, therefore should be exterminated by the heroes (the whites). These messages given by the shows are subconsciously implanted in children’s minds, therefore effectively contaminating them with the idea of racial discrimination.
Ø Exclusion – Gaps in economic and social status may contribute to the growing number of people being victimized by racial prejudice and discrimination. Exclusion of people with low-class status and being a part of the cultural minority is very common and usually scars a person, especially at a young age.
Ø Peer Influence – Peer groups, whether righteous or not, provides a “shelter” for adolescents. Having peer groups is a must in order to gain an identity and also as training for the real society. But unlike adult groups, peer groups offer equality and equal opportunity to elevate one’s status in the hierarchy. A peer group with a negative orientation towards the minorities lead to discrimination and exclusion.
Ø Delinquent Identities – “Delinquent identity is quite complex and is, in fact, an overlay of several identities linked to delinquency itself and to a person’s ethnicity, race, class and gender.” (2003). Delinquent identity is somewhat like an overlay of many identities linked to the person, it is like a second skin, somewhat. Therefore, the person may have difficulty discarding that image. This issue is another reason why minorities are victimized by prejudice. Minorities are tagged as being delinquents, therefore effectively condemning them to exclusion. Sometimes, violent acts which are committed are often due to the fact that some people have what it takes to be a victim of a certain negative behavior. Provocation and even toleration of the act may even fuel the offender more. Also, the person who seems to be the “victim-material” makes no effort at all in getting stopping the incident, thus, allowing the offender more opportunities to become an offender. However, this is not the case. Just because of the tag, people are discriminated against and are treated as outcasts to society.
Theories on Discrimination
Strain Theory
According to the Strain theory by , “people who commit crimes have basically the same values as everyone else. Primarily among these values is an emphasis on achievement and success.” Using this theory as a basis, we can conclude that people who discriminate against other people have been evaded by success. Success can come in different forms, in the context of the topic, success may mean being able to put down other people to be able to feel the elation of being the one on top, even for once.
Labeling theory
This theory is much concerned with the idea of becoming how others label you. If one is categorized as evil and low by the society, he is most likely to act that way, since he was already pushed into being like that. Then it is most likely that the person would choose to be like that, rather than prove them wrong. This once again proves the idea of conformity. Also, the person, especially when in groups or cliques, tends to sway more along the group rather than against it. So if the group decides to deviate against the society, then the person in question has no other option but to move with them.
Subculture theory
According to the subculture theory, a subculture, present within a culture may have its own principles and beliefs which may be deemed incorrect by the mother culture, due to the fact that it deviates from the mother culture. According to some research, a poor zone within a city may produce a subculture which can become norms and soon is part of that zones culture. This may not be of good nature since it may involve actions which are not necessarily correct in the eyes of the majority.
Conclusion
Therefore, racial discrimination in health care systems stems from many factors that affect people from childhood up to adolescence. These factors greatly define the choices of the people’s actions concerning their reaction to the issue of racial discrimination. As was mentioned, even the most basic factor in the life of a person, the family, can define a person’s course of actions. Furthermore, research has long proven that the parenting styles adopted by parents often have a great impact on the development of the child, in the context of the topic, discussion on parenting styles and its profound effects on children, especially aggression and discrimination. Parents should very well know how to raise their children. Psychologists and researchers often recommend the use of authoritative parenting since it is well-rounded in all parenting aspects. Since authoritative parents have high expectations of their children, one can expect that a child will be pushed to do the best, and that authoritative parents also reciprocate love and warmth, the child can have feelings of security. The use of other parenting styles can greatly increase the risk of pushing the child towards acting otherwise.
Furthermore, social factors that contribute to discrimination should be viewed closely. These things are usually not paid attention to but in the long run, they are often the factors that contribute to the child’s inclination to discrimination. Oftentimes, adults overlook the possibility that their children’s peers are the cause of their behavior or don’t even care at all about their children.
Economic factors also contribute to the rapidly increasing number of discriminate people. Poor economic status can cause many people to resort to criminal behaviors due to limited opportunities to lead “legal” lives. Succumbing to illegal activities may be the only resource for these people to be able to cope with the roughness of the economic instability of their country. They are the victims of a cruel and heartless society.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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