(In-)Equality
This is not going to be yet another discussion about men's and women's equal or non-equal rights - sorry, folks!
Equality is the state of being equal, particularly in terms of opportunities, rights, and treatment. It is a fundamental principle that encompasses fairness and justice for all members of society. Achieving equality involves addressing various forms of inequality, including economic, gender, and racial disparities. This often requires collaborative efforts from individuals, communities, and policymakers through initiatives such as education and awareness campaigns, policy reforms, and advocacy work. By promoting equality, we can work towards building a more inclusive and just society for everyone.
Inequality refers to the state of not being equal, especially in terms of – yes, you guessed it right – opportunities, rights, and treatment. It can manifest in various forms such as economic inequality, gender inequality, racial inequality, and more. Addressing inequality requires a concerted effort from individuals, communities, and policymakers to promote fairness and equal opportunities for all members of society. Initiatives such as education and awareness campaigns, policy changes, and advocacy work are vital in working towards a more equitable and just society.
The Gender Issue
This is not going to be yet another discussion about men’s and women’s equal or non-equal rights – sorry, folks! But let me at least present you the “man box” on this topic.
Tony Porter makes a call to men everywhere: Don’t “act like a man” and brake free of the “man box”.
Telling stories from his own life, he shows how this mentality, drummed into so many men and boys, can lead men to disrespect, mistreat and abuse women and each other.
Other (In)-Equalities
Instead, let’s have a look at so many other inequalities around of which gender is one of them. There are other issues such as simply being different, religions & beliefs, race / color of skin / ethnic origin, sexual orientation, social status / background within society, disabilities and available funds.
Mobbing, contempt, discrimination and even persecution are direct consequences of how we handle such inequalities and our neglect – or are we just too busy with our own lives? – is quite questionable.
“Being associated with or belonging to a minority makes it more difficult to assert oneself in a society that is fundamentally determined by the majority.”
– Eric Roth
It’s Systematic
Money and power in all shades are indeed ruling the world still today (that’s also why communism has never worked and capitalists hate it so much *) and with one, you can obtain the other. Of course, in the so-called civilized, developed industrial nations, nobody likes or even wants to hear that but please have a look in the mirror and then have a look around you. Look at your neighbors, observe the people in the streets, other places, cities, countries and watch every day’s news.
*) Karl Marx argued that what sets the capitalist mode of production apart from the commodity mode of production is not only the accumulation of money; the capitalist mode of production is characterized by the use of labor power as a commodity to create more value. The capitalist compensates the laborer enough for his labor power to reproduce the commodity (the labor power), but the laborers’ power produces additional value: a surplus value for the owner. The worker is exploited when he does not keep or control the value created by his own labor power. Marx argued that the capitalist system forces people into one of two classes: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
The Human Capital
Just by being realistic (I’m neither a pessimist nor an optimist), let me dare ask: Are we truly all “worth” the same? If you have the possibility talk to a mathematician employed with an insurance company or architects of any macro economy for example. You will soon realize that each and every one has a clearly monetized value attached or at least is expected to generate – mostly for others. It’s not by chance called human capital referring to the stock of knowledge, habits, social and personality attributes, including creativity, embodied in the ability to perform labor so as to produce economic value. There, you go.
Weapons of Math Destruction
In her award-winning book “Weapons of Math Destruction”, Dr. Cathy O’Neil shares several examples of how predictive tests / scoring mechanisms can seriously damage someone’s life.
Future Earth
Richard Wilkinson, co-author of “The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone” *) took the time to explain how he thinks the work of Future Earth ties in with the need for greater equality in societies.
*) The book argues that there are “pernicious effects that inequality has on societies: Eroding trust, increasing anxiety and illness, (and) encouraging excessive consumption”
All Just Theories?
Shall we go into the topics of social media, internet search giants and giant pharmaceutical / food / energy enterprises / or even the Covid-19 pandemic? Preferably not – one quickly gets marked as a conspiracy theorist. So we may keep our eyes closed further on, because there shall be hope indeed:
“Belief and faith are the children of hope.”
– Eric Roth
If not for anything else, we may pull together all our faith every year on February, 20 – The World Day of Social Justice.
