Discrimination

Letters to editor column of 7Days is littered with interesting thoughts on racial discrimination at work place in Dubai.

We are constantly subjected to discrimination almost on a daily basis in one way or the other….it may be a job advertisement, an interview, entry to a club, a look, a gesture; why, even a seemingly kind patronising is discrimination in disguise and can be the unkindest cut of all.

It is easy to understand this phenomenon when you are at the receiving end….For a white man/woman it would not be very apparent unless the act of discrimination is very pronounced, which do not normally surface in a politically correct environment where people live with enforced civility!!!

Unfortunately, discrimination is present everywhere and take many forms…, I think it is only human; and often the result of conditioning that exist in our sub-consious minds.

1. Gender Discrimination
2. Religious Discrimination
3. Racial Discrimination
4. Regional Discrimination (this is the strangest…have you witnessed the discrimination meted out to South Indians – otherwise known as Madrasis – by North Indians in Bombay – oops Mumbai !!!)
5. Linguistic Discrimination
6. Discrimination on the grounds of Nationality
7. Discrimination based on appearance / physique / height
8. Lifestyle Discrimination

The only difference is that in Dubai, where there is no real law against discrimination, this is practiced without any fear of retribution.

What has often surprised me is the discrimination between an Indian Boss and his Indian Office Boy. The request for tea is almost always “Eh...bring tea”.

On the other hand a European Manager always asks for a tea with a please!!!

One can live with all the other forms of discrimination. Sure it hurts, but, it really doesn’t matter if you are denied entry into a club or if you are given an unfriendly / indifferent treatment in an upper class shopping mall.

Unfortunately, you are hit the most when discrimination manifests as a huge disparity in earnings, even worse, when one is denied the opportunity to earn a livelihood!!!