In India, we have three major types of discrimination-
that of caste, that of sex and that of religion, in the order specified. Humans are discriminatory by nature- it’s in
their predisposition to align themselves with a group to treat people of other
groups with contempt, derision and fear. Waging war, committing genocide, being
xenophobic can be found in nature, even with some higher order mammals. And human society is quite capable of
justifying such behavior, sometimes glamorizing war against people of other
kind, teaching them to be contemptible of other religions and caste, all in the
name of fighting for your own kind.
Either it is Nazism, or slavery in United States or caste system in India, they are all based in promotion of one’s own kind at the cost of other kind. While it is easy to find fault with human gene for group discrimination, I am not sure if our disposition towards ill treatment of women is also genetic in nature or whether it comes wholly from religion and traditions. Whether the roots lie in our animal ancestry or in our religion and traditions, it is generally agreed that most of these discriminations get their legitimacy from the way society influences its individuals.
Either it is Nazism, or slavery in United States or caste system in India, they are all based in promotion of one’s own kind at the cost of other kind. While it is easy to find fault with human gene for group discrimination, I am not sure if our disposition towards ill treatment of women is also genetic in nature or whether it comes wholly from religion and traditions. Whether the roots lie in our animal ancestry or in our religion and traditions, it is generally agreed that most of these discriminations get their legitimacy from the way society influences its individuals.
