Discrimination is still alive and well in our society.

            Discrimination is involuntarily inflicted onto people’s lives. People view each other differently because of their race and/or gender, not by their characteristics. People unfairly view others through their stereotypes. Individuals are judged and treated differently, they are generalized negatively. Discrimination is still evident in today’s society.

            People may argue that there is no discrimination in comparison with the past. This is because there are equal opportunities for male and females. Recently gay marriage has been legalized. Society improved in comparison to the past, with segregation and women's rights. Women earned the right to vote and rights have been reformed so they aren’t inferior to men. Society has made progress since the past, but discrimination still exists. People are still treated unfairly.

People are discriminated based on race. Police shootings developed the “Black Lives Matter” movement. There are many cases in which police forces discriminate against blacks.  Police officers would pull over blacks who they claim are dangerous. They associated blacks with negative stereotypes. Police officers would be overly aggressive, handcuffing their suspects even though they have done nothing wrong. They were arrested for based on the color of their skin. Cases report that victims are heavily beaten when pleading innocence but are ignored. In other cases innocent blacks have been shot.

Minorities face discrimination throughout their lives because of stereotypes. As an Asian-American, I hear derogatory racial slang against me. They say random words that don’t translate to anything. I am respected less because of my race, or what they assume my race to be.

People are discriminated based on gender. Women still have less rights than men and are stereotyped as well. There are more opportunities for women than in the past, such as jobs. However, women are still paid less than men. Women are also still discouraged to have masculine categorized career or interests, or vice versa for men. An expected common general societal role is that a family should consist of a husband and wife.  Women are expected to be caretakers or housewives while men are expected to work at technical jobs, business or manual labor. Women would commonly rely on their husbands for income. Women are stereotyped, depicted to be weaker than men. In media female characters are the damsels in distress and need a man to save them. They are not independent.

Men and women are taught to follow their gender roles. They are viewed unorthodox if they dress or appear a different gender. An example is that men are discouraged for wearing makeup, as it is too feminine.

People are discriminated based on sexuality. Straight people are socially acceptable, others are not. Many people are against other relationships, such as members of the LGBTQIA, and people having an open or poly relationships. When gay marriage was legalized in many areas, gay people still faced discrimination in which people denied them marriage papers. Many parts of the world did not legalize gay marriage as well. Others were discontent about the law.

People are discriminated based on body types. If someone is not pretty or handsome enough in societal standards, they are looked down upon. Physical characteristics such as small eyes, and being overweight are shamed. The standard for women is that they should have curves and hairless bodies. They should have small noses and a slim jaw. These body types are glorified. Media constantly depicts these body types as it is seen as the standard for beauty. Magazines, television and ads show people with these body types. Magazines such as “Playboy” show what is considered sexually appealing. Models have these body types. People are also edited to look more that way.

            Discrimination is inevitable. People learn and grow up in society to these negative stereotypes. They are influenced to think that way through media and religion. How people were raised impacts how they think. Society has social standards, which stems from the past. Everyone experiences discrimination in modern society.