Equality in modern society is considered an ideal to which people should strive at the personal level and at the state level. However, it is not always possible to achieve the same conditions for each citizen; a situation arises with the infringement of different social groups in their rights. And to carry out such a policy intentionally is to discriminate. The term that has gained unprecedented fame in recent years has entered everyday speech. But what exactly does it mean and what shortcomings of human relations does it indicate?
Ancient division
The basic concept is considered book, indicates a malicious infringement of the legitimate interests of both the individual and large groups. The criteria can be very different:
- race
- ethnic group;
- citizenship;
- property qualification;
- religious views;
- party affiliation, etc.
Initially, Latin discriminatio translates quite benevolently, without negative connotations:
In turn, it goes back to the verb discriminare, whose interpretation is already more unambiguous:
- divide;
- dissect;
- to separate.
Philologists traced the connection to the pre-Indo-European krei, which literally fell apart into the meanings of "sift, distinguish." You set certain criteria by which you start sorting people and objects, that’s what it means to discriminate. How acceptable is this behavior?
Current standards
The sought-after term was used in books and newspapers, only at the end of the 20th century it splashed out into everyday speech. The most common interpretations:
- relate differently to persons and objects from the same category;
- restrict in any generally accepted rights;
- to deprive of equal rights.
You can discriminate against others even if you behave with them without taking into account significant differences. Thus, an accessible environment program is designed to eliminate inequalities in mobility for people with musculoskeletal problems through the creation of ramps and elevators. And visually impaired people do not pay for a guide dog in public transport, since it is their eyes, an indispensable tool for a fearless stay in an urban environment.
Everyday communication
Can school teachers discriminate? Is it normal to force a person to do something against his will? Today, the main trouble of the term is its depreciation, use is not the case. Modern society is doing its best to level the differences between people, which carries a moral or physical danger to the individual.
But at the same time, civil rights arise from obligations, and therefore the implementation of the norms prescribed in the legislation is a priority over the personal perception of a particular situation. Act in the legal field, and then any inequality will be nothing!