It also refers to a state of no indirect or direct discrimination based on, race, nationality, gender or sexual orientation. Direct discrimination refers to when one is treated less favorably than another due to a comparison on the basis of race, gender or any other criteria. Indirect discrimination occurs when a neutral provision or practice would place persons of an ethnic or race or any other criteria at a disadvantage in comparison with other persons unless that provision is justified objectively through and that is legitimate and the manner of achieving the aim is necessary and appropriate ("Equal Treatment And Discrimination - GMW Lawyers").
Immediate family (Parent to child or siblings)
Indirect discrimination is practiced in most African immediate families, whereby in matters concerning inheritance of property after the parent’s demise, the firstborn automatically gets the largest share of property and depending on the number of male children descending from the second born, property is split in the same manner hence the last born male gets the least. Not only is that bias but also women or the girl child does not inherit anything at all since she will be married off to another man who has his own property and the family’s property lineage must be passed in a continuing generation of the father which is through sons only ("Inheritance Laws").
This mostly brings family disagreements in this present free thinking world where women are more liberal and are rebels to traditional system and also want same equal rights to men. In Africa, the inheritance system to men is moral according to some but rather immoral in this present time.
Extended Family (Grandparent to child or close cousins)
Biasness is rarely found in aged persons (grandparents) to their grandchildren, the old are mostly taken to be wise and know how to live thus making the best decisions. Grandparents are usually happy to meet grandsons and are thankful for their old age since it is an honor to live to such an age. However not all are like this, some may treat their sons, daughters or grandchildren depending on how their parents take care of them in their elderly age or even their success state, lifetime achievement. Most times grandparents depend on their children and grandchildren for provision thus the ones who are not able to provide may suffer preference and discrimination to the rich and able ones. This is ethically wrong since sometimes poverty is inevitable, no one feels comfortable being in want or lacking hence grandparents should be understanding and love equally.
Further Extended Family (Related by marriage or more distant cousins)
With extended family relationships, a family may seem to be leaning towards nurturing relationships on one side of the in-laws than the other, hence one relationship grows while another suffers. Families usually have a lot of misunderstandings and marriage becomes an escape haven for some thus cutting connections and ties or even forming lasting grudges which results in the unequal treatment of relatives. Some of these actions may seem justified to an individual who suffers hurt from an extended family but family will always be the safest place to run to when things fall apart because of the blood relationship which automatically creates a bond and a community out of families and forgiveness is inevitable to family no matter how hard it is. It is not moral to discriminate family in whatever criteria or for whatsoever reason, because families eventually need each other sometimes.
Tribal/Ethnic/Racial Affiliation (Shares a common ancestor or common ethnic heritage or race)
This is the most common type of discriminative aspect worldwide which may be morally justifiable or immoral depending on an argument. For example, in America, the black and white discrimination that has brought unwarranted arrests and murder of black people leading to revolutionary movements like Black Lives Matter that advocates for the cease towards color or racial discrimination. I believe that, some black (African-American) people cause these discriminations to be, not that it is right to feel unsafe around them but, their mode of dressing and violent lingo present them to be harmful, if they could fit in the society they live in and become moderate such could not happen because not all blacks are discriminated. Also on the other end, white people (Native Americans) are naïve and possessive of their country that they hate to live with the blacks, which is humanly wrong, while some of them too have the same character and violent dressing codes and lingo too, from whatever race one comes from we all bleed the same blood and can feel hurt the same way, that is why we have human rights, a conscious law towards equality of persons. It is immoral to discriminate any human although for one’s safety it may be good to exercise sober judgment on who to stay away from because not every man can be trusted but love ought to be each and everyone’s obligation.
Religious Affiliation (Shares a common faith)
This also is a popular type of an equality split worldwide especially between the Islam and Christian religion but it is actually against Islam and other religions. The Islam refer to unbelievers in their faith as ‘Kafir’ whereby when one converts out of Islam, that person may be discriminated, disowned or even murdered, some Muslim countries like Malaysia the sharia laws are part of the constitution that one marrying a Muslim must convert into Islam which is not ethical ("For Muslim Apostates, Giving Up Their Faith Can Be Terrifying, Alienating And Dangerous"). Also, Islam fundamentalists see other religions as ‘Kafir’ and mostly hate Christians thus bombing churches and killing Christians which brings fear into the world towards Muslims. Due to their alikeness in appearance and clothing one may not be able to identify a fundamentalist, terrorist, their religion’s disregard and outrage for others make them all seem dangerous hence a discriminative mind towards Muslims is inevitable. It would be moral if Islam adhered to human rights internationally so as to create an ethical ground for peace, Muslims are human beings and they should not be discriminated but for safety purposes, one ought not to be too lenient and trusting to them because of their untrustworthy nature and putting their religion above ethics.
Geographic/Regional Affiliation (Shares a common regional or geographic identity)
Unequal treatment is also rampant in this category too, mostly in African countries whereby a country has a rich infrastructure only in urban areas and extreme negligence in poor rural areas which are likely semi-arid or slums. There is the presence of leadership in those areas, governors, senators but corruption and mismanagement of funds happen and the people there suffer unemployment, lack of education and medical facilities, hunger and even death through droughts and famine. This is the type of unequal treatment is not justifiable by any means at all and is immoral.
Same Sex (Men giving preference to men or women giving preference to women)
There have been cases of girl child and women empowerment and even international programs towards it. Women have traditionally been perceived as home instruments and child bearers hence not being given respect in education or leadership positions. For a woman to be a C.E.O or a leader of a company it is logical that she has to prove to be better than all the men present, of which even if she achieves it, she is not given full respect by men because of their egocentric nature and traditional mindset. Equal treatment to women is very necessary and they should be given opportunities like men, this is the moral thing to do, gender biases is immoral and unethical.
Marital Status (Giving preference based on being married or not)
Marriage is seen as a rite of passage for each human or rather a necessity which is so basic or even more important compared to the air we breathe unless one has committed to celibacy through being a Catholic priest. It is socially obvious that a married person would easily be in an intimate friendly relationship a fellow married person compared to a single one thus one finds that he or she has pushed away or is rather less interested in unmarried friends since they do not share this important way of life to them. Marriage is seen as an achievement making single people, even worse, aging single people feel unwanted or stressful that they can’t get a mate. It is not moral to unequally treat unmarried people instead the moral thing to do is to mentor them into getting into a relationship.
Sexuality (Giving preference based on similar sexual expression
It is the current international debate on if gay marriage is ethical or should be accepted which unfortunately is not supported since most people are religious especially Christians and Muslims who passionately disagree with this. This, however, does not give the right to treat persons with gay relationships any different, they are human and should be loved and respected despite the relationships seeming unnatural.
Socioeconomic status (Giving preference based on education, wealth, or occupation)
Persons with high socioeconomic standards tend to be treated with much honor and dignity compared to the poor, uneducated or middle-class. Their money becomes the influence of others to treat them with respect because of the notion that they are powerful and lack nothing and can get anything they want therefore being socially placed as higher beings and some even worshiped due to their fame and celebrity lavish lives. Not all rich persons treat common people as servants or rather in rudeness, some are humble despite their status and associate with their poor helping them and giving them opportunities. People with a low socioeconomic status should be highly esteemed of their low incomes and be encouraged to invest and moreover to present themselves as men of dignity but not as needy and desperate instead hopeful. It is not moral to treat the two status with different attitudes one with honor and another with dishonor since at the end of the day human rights apply to all and we are all human persons.
Work Cited
"Equal Treatment And Discrimination - GMW Lawyers". GMW Lawyers, 2018, https://www.gmw.nl/en/topics/employment-law/equal-treatment-discrimination/.
Accessed 31 Oct 2018.
"For Muslim Apostates, Giving Up Their Faith Can Be Terrifying, Alienating And Dangerous". National Post, 2015, https://nationalpost.com/holy-post/for-muslim- apostates-giving-up-their-faith-can-be-terrifying-dangerous-and-alienating.
Accessed 31 Oct 2018.
"Inheritance Laws". Endvawnow.Org, 2018, http://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/767- inheritance-laws.html. Accessed 31 Oct 2018.
LEONG, TRINNA. "Sarawak Could Allow Converts To Renounce Islam". The Straits Times, 2018, https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/sarawak-could-allow-converts-to- renounce-islam. Accessed 31 Oct 2018.
