Hello everyone!
In this entry, I will be mainly talking about how religious discrimination could affect the society, eventually answering questions no. 9 to 15 of my 30 research questions.
As I noticed from the result of my survey, religious discrimination is not a big issue in Japan. However, it is still a big issue globally, especially in The United States where many ethnicities of people live in. Religious discrimination is inevitable, and happens in many ways but, it can be prevented in various ways.
Religious discrimination in the workplace can manifest in various ways, including:
- Hiring and Firing: Discriminating against individuals based on their religious beliefs during the hiring process or making employment decisions such as promotions or terminations based on religion.
- Accommodations: Failing to reasonably accommodate employees' religious practices, such as denying requests for time off for religious holidays or refusing to allow religious attire or grooming practices, unless they pose an undue hardship.
- Harassment: Subjecting individuals to derogatory comments, slurs, or offensive behavior based on their religion, creating a hostile work environment.
- Unequal Treatment: Providing preferential treatment or benefits to employees of certain religions while treating others unfairly or denying them equal opportunities.
Religious discrimination can impact access to education and healthcare by:
- Educational Opportunities: Religious discrimination can affect admission to educational institutions, scholarships, or educational programs based on an individual's religious beliefs.
- Curriculum and Instruction: Educational institutions may exclude or marginalize certain religious perspectives, restrict religious expression, or fail to provide religious accommodations.
- Healthcare Services: Discrimination may occur when healthcare providers deny services or treatments based on their own religious beliefs, resulting in limited access to reproductive health services, end-of-life care, or LGBTQ+ healthcare.
Religious discrimination can have negative effects on individuals' mental health:
- Stigma and Exclusion: Discrimination can lead to social isolation, exclusion, and a sense of not belonging, which can contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
- Psychological Distress: Experiencing religious discrimination can cause significant psychological distress, leading to increased stress, fear, and emotional turmoil.
- Identity Conflict: Discrimination based on religion may create a conflict between an individual's religious identity and their professional or personal life, resulting in internal turmoil and a loss of self-worth.
International treaties and conventions that address religious discrimination include:
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Article 18 of the UDHR recognizes the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief, including the freedom to manifest one's religion or belief in practice.
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): The ICCPR reinforces the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief in Article 18, emphasizing protection against religious discrimination and the freedom to manifest one's religion.
Religious freedom and religious discrimination differ in the following ways:
- Religious Freedom: Religious freedom refers to the right of individuals to hold any religious beliefs, change their beliefs, or practice their religion freely without interference or coercion from the government or others.
- Religious Discrimination: Religious discrimination occurs when individuals or groups are treated unfairly or unequally based on their religious beliefs or practices, restricting their rights or opportunities.
Certain religious practices have faced stigmatization or discrimination, including:
- Religious Attire: Some religious attire, such as hijabs, turbans, or religious symbols, has been stigmatized or banned in certain contexts, limiting individuals' freedom to express their religious beliefs.
- Religious Rituals: Practices such as wearing religious symbols, religious dietary requirements, or religious rituals have sometimes faced discrimination or backlash.
Individuals can take steps to combat religious discrimination:
- Education and Awareness: Educate yourself and others about different religions, their beliefs, and practices to foster understanding and empathy.
- Reporting Discrimination: If you experience religious discrimination, report it to the appropriate authority within your workplace, educational institution, or community.
- Seek Legal Assistance: If religious discrimination persists or becomes severe, consult with an attorney who specializes in employment or civil rights law to understand your legal rights and options.
- Promote Inclusive Policies: Encourage employers, educational institutions, and policymakers to adopt inclusive
This blog is written by:
Yuka Koshizuka
Aoyamagakuin University
Department of English
You identified and organized the key issues related to religious discrimination very well. I wonder if you know that America was founded by settlers who came to the New World to escape religious oppression in Europe from those who considered them to be extreme and overly rigid in their beliefs, the so-called Pilgrims.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to look at the situation in France regarding the freedom to, for example wear attire that clearly identifies your religious affiliation. In France, unlike in America, you cannot wear a crucifix around your neck or a hijab if you are a government worker who is working in your official capacity. The reason is that France tries to maintain a secular society in which people are not prohibited from following their faith, but they are encouraged not to wear their faith on their sleeve, so to speak, so as not to put a wedge between them and others in French society. Some muslims or other religious people see this as repressing their religious expression however.