The Relation Between Discrimination And The Four Humanistic Principles 

Discrimination is about a person not being fairly treated compare to others because of their personal characteristics. “treating a person unfairly because of who is or because they possess certain characteristics.”(EOC(UK), n.d.). People who have been discriminated against may have lost some very basic rights and not have an equal chance.

Discrimination exists everywhere since ancient times. It is embedded in some of the traditional mindsets in different cultures (or countries). For example, race discrimination has been well-accepted in many countries. In those cultures, they think their race is better than any other race. And they will treat other races people badly. In South Africa, there was a law which separate different race people called Apartheid. Which end began in the early 1990s. In this law. They separate people by their race. Except for white people, all other race has been treated badly. They will lose some basic rights. (e.g. marrying different race people etc.) (“The End of South African Apartheid”, Longley, 2018). This is Race Discrimination. A type of discrimination. But in modern society, the situation of discrimination has improved a lot by canceling the law that has discrimination in it, creating a new law to prevent discrimination and moral education. And discrimination is against the four humanistic principles. Because discrimination is about treating others unfairly. The result of this report may help others to understand the relation between discrimination and the four humanistic principles.

Method

This report was done by internet research. The definition of discrimination comes from EOC (Equal Opportunities Commission) (UK) website. (https://www.eoc.org.uk/what-is-discrimination/) and the EOC (Equal Opportunities Commission) (HK) official website (https://www.eoc.org.hk/eoc/graphicsfolder/showcontent.aspxcontent=race%20discrimination%20ordinance%20and%20i). The case of discrimination has come from the 2017 EOC casebook Page 45. (https://www.eoc.org.hk/EOC/Upload/booklets/casebook2017/eng.pdf). This case has been chosen because Race Discrimination is common in Hong Kong or even in the world too. and this case is clearly violating humanistic principles. This report will analyze if it is a case of discrimination and which humanistic principles have been violated. And identify if the treatment is unfair in the case and what is the irrelevant factor.

Result

Is this case discrimination and the reasons.

This case is a discrimination case. In this case, Lina was a South Asian domestic helper. And she was a resident of a private housing estate. On various occasions, including the activities organized for all residents. Lina and her friends (who is also a foreign domestic helper) residing in the same housing estate were rudely told to leave by the security guards and another resident Mr.A. Mr.A remarks that “you are dirty because you are foreign maids” and accused them of making a mess. And the same treatment did not occur to the Chinese or European residents. Lina and her friends felt humiliated, insulted, and belittled (2017 EOC Casebook, page 45). “Racial discrimination is about treating people less favorably based on their race.” (Race Discrimination Ordinance & I, EOC, n.d.). Lina and her friends do not have treated fairly by the security guards and Mr.A compares to the other foreign resident. And this is a discrimination case by the definition.

Discussion

In this case, 2 humanistic principles were violated. The security guard and Mr.A violates the principles of non-maleficence and the principle of justice.

Firstly, Mr.A violated the principle of non-maleficence. He should not say some bad things to others. In this case, he remarks that “you are dirty because you are foreign maids” in front of many other residents. And his remarks make Lina feel humiliated, insulted, and belittled. Mr.A violating the principle of non-maleficence by discriminating against Lina. Mr.A should be avoided to have discriminatory remarks on Lina and her friends because of their job and race. Because his remarks hurt Lina and her friends and make them feel bad.

Secondly, the Security Guard and Mr.A violated the principle of Justice. Everyone should be fairly treated. Mr.A should treat Lina fairly. He does not treat Lina and her friends like other foreign people. No matter what race Lina and her friends and other foreign resident are. Everyone in this world is equal and deserves. He cannot treat Lina and her friends badly just because of their job and their race. The security guard and Mr.A should treat South Asian people just like the way he treats European people and other residents. And They should accept Lina and her friends to join those activities for residents. Because Lina and her Friends are the residents at the same housing estate. They have the right to join the activities.

The government should disseminate more about ethnic communion, for example, they can disseminate ethnic communion by putting more advertisements on tv. To promote we should not discriminate against others because of irrelevant factors. No matter what their job and their race. Everyone deserves to have fairly treated and accepted.

Conclusion

In this research, I improve my mind on the relationship between discrimination and humanistic principles. Understand more about how discrimination violating humanistic principles. And I know more about what discrimination is by doing researches. We should treat and accept everyone fairly and not treat someone badly simply just because of their job, race, etc. And the government should do something to disseminate ethnic communion.