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Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in Mauritius

Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in Mauritius
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Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society GOOSKHAN Souhaylah 2013 MAURITIUS Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society Table of Contents Mauritius as a Multi-ethnic Island 3 Prejudice . 4 1. 2. 3. 4.

Racism . 4 Sexism . 4 Homophobia . 5 Ableism 5

Stereotyping 5 Discrimination . 5 Social Exclusion in Multi-ethnic Mauritius 6 Local Governments . Equal Opportunities Act 7 Inequality in Employment . 7 Gendered Poverty . 8 National Human Rights Commission. Ways to eliminate stereotyping 9 1. 2. 3. 4. Stereotypes in Schools 9 Stereotypes in Workplaces . 10 Stereotypes at Home 0 Stereotypes in the Media 10 Ways to eliminate discrimination . 11 Conclusion . 12 2 Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society Mauritius as a Multi-ethnic Island

Members of different ethnic groups in Mauritius have always been blaming the Government for failure to satisfy their ethnic group requirements. There is often shifting of blames at all levels when things do not work. More than forty years have passed since independence and there is the perception that we have failed to build a nation. People still put their ethnic identities before their national identities today. The few who claim to be Mauritians complain that their demands are rarely met by authorities. In one way or the other the majority of our population is of opinion that leaders are not managing the country effectively.

The four main religions of the world are present in our country. The Christians population and the different sects and denominations form part of the friendship networks or economic association. All Muslims follow the Islamic religion while Hindus follow Hinduism. Buddhism has as adherents the Chinese population. Dinan, Nababsing and Mathur (1999) (cited in Crawford Young, 1999) argue that Mauritians are religious minded people and this has helped to build a climate of tolerance and the population is of opinion that leaders are not managing the country effectively.

All religions together with the diverse sects and cults work towards one goal – the maintenance of peace and stability. On the other hand, A. R. Mannick (1979) argues that religious faith in the Mauritian society is important for, to a certain extent, they influence politics. Many religious leaders have close connections with politicians. During election, it has been noticed that politicians claim legitimacy and supports from their respectively ethnic groups. Once elected, they have to serve both the country and their respective religious groups.

A few influential members of the religious institutions have often been accused of using religion for their self interests and those of their close relatives. Through negotiations and lobbies they try to get commercial permits, jobs and promotions. Nevertheless, the religious institution has contributed enormously in the maintenance of peace and stability and in the organisation of common fronts for the sake of the country. During the riots of 1999, we have noticed as to how the representatives of different religious 3 Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society roups pleaded for the benefit of our country. To have a better understanding of the words prejudice, discrimination and stereotyping, these words have been defined clearly in the following section. Prejudice Prejudice is a preconceived judgment or opinion that is usually based on limited information about a group or groups of people. When people have misinformation about groups to which they do not belong, they may create stereotypes based on these omissions. Lack of information about others may lead to treating them in a discriminatory way, based on prejudice.

The most common types of prejudice are those based on race, gender, sexual orientation and disability. 1. Racism Racial prejudice and discrimination can occur in different ways. When most people think of racism, they think of overt racism or the assertion that people of one race are less worthy than or inferior to others. These attitudes are often seen in hate groups, such as white supremacists. Examples of overt racism include hate crimes, segregation and genocide. These types of racial prejudice are less common today. Covert racism is a social system of advantage based on race.

In covert racism, stereotypes about people of color are connected to a larger cultural belief that white people are superior. This operates largely subconsciously and is a prejudice that is reflected in the cultural images and messages in the media of people of color that are largely based on stereotypes. 2. Sexism Prejudice based on sex or sexism involves the belief that one sex is innately superior to the other; usually that men are better than women and therefore should have more power. Sexism puts women at a disadvantage in many areas of society.

For instance, the prejudice that men are smarter than women leads to greater opportunities for men in the workforce. Similarly, stereotypes about women lead to women predominantly being responsible for housework and childcare. 4 Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society 3. Homophobia Homophobia is an aversion to or hostility towards people thought to be gay, lesbian or bisexual. Since heterosexuality is considered superior to homosexuality, stereotypes about homosexuals persist. These stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination. For instance, according to John J.

Macionis in his textbook “Social Problems,” each year there are approximately 1,000 hate crimes committed in the U. S. against gay, lesbian and bisexual people. Hate crimes are when someone commits an offense against a person, property or society motivated by a prejudice against that group. 4. Ableism Ableism is discrimination against or mistreatment of people with mental, emotional or physical disabilities. The disabilities include physical or mental conditions that limit a person’s everyday activities. People with these prejudices believe that they are superior to people with disabilities.

These prejudices can lead to ableism, which can be seen on individual, institutional and cultural levels, where people with disabilities are denied equal access to education, health care, housing and employment. Stereotyping Stereotypes can be defined as perceived differences or assumptions people have about a group of people based on race, gender, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion — often portray groups in a negative light. They can be spread by different sources, including the media and people in society. Teachers, parents and authority figures have an influence over the way other people view certain cultural groups.

Different educational efforts help to educate people within a school, work or home environment and get them to stop believing in stereotypes. Discrimination Discrimination is a negative behaviour towards a person’s gender, age, religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual preference or height. Discrimination is a huge problem that can 5 Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society be found worldwide inside and outside of the workplace. The United States government passes laws that make discrimination illegal. Employers must follow laws when hiring employees.

Even with rules in place, many people still fall victim to discrimination. There are many ways to stop discrimination. Teaching employees and students about discrimination through meetings and classes is one powerful way to eliminate discrimination. Social Exclusion in Multi-ethnic Mauritius It is important to realise the multi-dimensional aspects of social exclusion, which are not limited to low-income levels and material poverty but also to the subjective experience of prejudice and discrimination in the labour market and in access to educational facilities, both in the State and private sectors.

There is also a strong feeling among Creoles that their cultural heritage has been ignored and marginalised compared to other sections of the population. Although they constitute about 30% of the population, Creoles are very largely under-represented in the public sector, especially at higher levels of responsibility, the major obstacle being low educational achievement. The feeling of exclusion is also experienced at the level of political representation and meaningful participation in the affairs of the country at regional and national levels.

It is also sometimes very painfully experienced at the level of control agencies such as the police and school teachers. The attitude of teachers and police officers towards the deprived groups at the community level, has not only not contributed to harmony and cohesion but may have in some cases, worsened relationships between different groups. The role of these two extremely important agents of community control should be closely examined and properly equipped so that they could become extremely useful stabilising and motivating forces, with immense potential for social transformation in difficult deprived areas.

Local Governments Local government funding and administration is of critical importance in the Mauritian situation not only in terms of the consolidation of democratic principles but also in terms of ethnic distribution and sharing of power. The geographical dispersal of ethnic groups has for historical reasons led to a concentration of Hindus and Muslims in rural regions and Creoles in urban regions. Municipal Councils have very limited powers to generate funds and 6

Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society therefore become largely dependent on Central Government. The relationship between Central Government and local administration at the Municipal level has often been tinted with ethnic undertones. Village and district councils are in an even worse situation as they cannot generate any funds at all through the rural tax which all successive governments have talked about but not implemented for fear of loss of rural support.

At the level of village councils the problem of decentralisation of power is perhaps even more acute, as they receive annual grants from Central Government which hardly allows them the possibility of engaging in important development projects at a local level. At this level the concern is much less connected with the issues of ethnic sharing of power but is still very much related to the issue of low levels of participatory democracy and resulting uneven development. Equal Opportunities Act It is felt that discrimination still persists on a fairly large scale on the grounds of sex and ethnicity, particularly in the employment sector.

The present Government has mentioned a few times its intention of introducing a Sex Discrimination Act and an Equal Opportunities Act to ensure that Section 16 of the Constitution guarantees effective protection against discriminatory practices. With regard to ethnic discrimination in the labour market, approximately fifteen years ago, it was suggested that a National Employment Agency be set up with a view to controlling discriminatory practices in recruitment policies in the private sector where jobs are not advertised and there is no public accountability as in the public sector.

Through such an agency, there can be recourse to the Supreme Court should a person feel discriminated against on the basis of his race or ethnicity. The Government decided not to go ahead with this plan because of its very complex legal implications and strong resistance from the private sector. Inequality in Employment Equality of access to education and employment is one of the major potential root causes of tension in a country where there has been up to now, a fairly strong level of ethnic concentration in some sectors of the employment market.

Public and private sector jobs and certain advanced technology opportunities in the industrial sector require high level qualifications and training and therefore exclude large numbers and groups of people who 7 Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society are, for a number of reasons, low educational achievers. This will become a more serious problem with the gradual disappearance of traditional manual occupations such as labourers, dock workers and cabinet makers, and their gradual replacement by occupations requiring higher basic educational qualifications.

Several political parties are demanding that an Equal Opportunity Bill be introduced in Parliament. It should be noted that attempts to introduce an ‘Agence Nationale de l’Emploi’ in the early 1980s with a view to controlling recruitment policies and practices and ensuring greater meritocracy in the private sector, were resisted by both private sector interests and Government on the grounds of its complex legal implications. Gendered Poverty In a male-dominated society, women seem to carry a greater share of the burden of poverty than men.

In deprived areas, there is a significant proportion of women who have either been abandoned by their husbands or have to bear the ‘tyranny’ or brutality of an alcoholic husband, whose pay-packet never reaches home at the end of the month. Women often have to resort to multiple jobs or to severe cuts in expenditure as survival strategies. In the worst cases, lack of employment opportunities drive a small proportion of these women, especially young single mothers, to commercial sexual activities. Young single mothers or abandoned wives can no longer rely on the support of the extended family, to the extent that they could a few decades ago.

Therefore, they are inevitably drawn into situations of unhealthy dependence on temporary relationships with male partners, not interested in long term relationships with them. National Human Rights Commission The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was set up by an Act of parliament namely the protection of Human Rights Act 1998. The basic objective of the Act is to better protect the human rights and freedom referred to in the chapter II of the constitution. Some of the rights and freedom are as follows: freedom of the association, freedom to voice out one’s opinion, freedom of the movement and freedom of the press.

Any person who feels being discriminated against on the basis of colour, creed, race, religion, language or place of origin may seize the NHRC to inquire into the matter. Such an Act is a guarantee for the 8 Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society fundamental rights and freedom of the members of any ethnic group. The 2008 Equal Opportunity Act This act has been welcome positively by each and everyone in the country. During the presentation of the Equal Opportunity Bill in the National Assembly, The Prime Minister, Dr Navin Ramgoolam, showed his commitment to level the playing ground for all Mauritians.

Anyone who deserves to get a job or a service will get it out of merit and qualifications. The government of the day has been praised for their willingness to build a just and fair society where all the citizens will have equal rights and opportunities to succeed and prosper. The question that arises now is how far the act will be implemented in a transparent manner by all stakeholders of the society. Some people are sceptical as to whether they will all get the same opportunity regarding access to educational facilities, access to jobs and promotions.

Others are posing the question as to whether the words like discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping will really not be considered when distributing scarce resources to the population. To put the Equal Opportunity Act into practice, it is believed that there should be the right person in the right place to make and take decisions for the benefit of all Mauritians. Ways to eliminate stereotyping 1. Stereotypes in Schools 1. Educate children by teaching them about the negative and positive aspects of different cultures so that students get a clearer view of what people within certain cultures are like and believe.

While exposing children to different cultures, confront stereotypes in a direct manner, giving students examples and reasons why the stereotypes are incorrect. 2. Bring in guest speakers from different backgrounds to talk about their cultures and to answer questions students might have about their cultural groups. 3. Teach students about concentration camps for Jews in Germany and internment camps for Japanese people in the United States to show what can happen when stereotypes guide people’s actions in a negative manner. 9

Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society 2. Stereotypes in Workplaces 1. Work to get to know different people within an organization to help end their assumptions about your cultural group or to expose yourself to people of different cultural backgrounds. 2. Avoid basing your ideas about a cultural group on someone you know who is a part of that group because groups often contain a wide variety of people. 3. Help to develop or attend a workshop that addresses stereotypes and works to get people to challenge their assumptions. 4.

Develop a discussion group to have honest dialogues with other workers about stereotypes. 3. Stereotypes at Home 1. Use books, movies, Internet sites and other sources to teach your children about different groups of people. Utilize different sources to teach your children about cultural groups so that they do not base their assumptions from one book, movie or website. 2. Talk to your children about the history and traditions of people from certain cultural backgrounds after watching animated movies or reading books to give your children a more well-rounded view of people of those cultural groups. . Listen for stereotypes in your children’s language, and try to educate them about how harmful stereotypes and prejudice can be. Do not yell at them for using stereotypical language, but instead use it as an opportunity to teach them the harms of stereotypes and prejudice. 4. Act as a role model for your children’s behavior by making an effort to avoid using stereotypes and prejudiced language in your home. This will help you to have an influence over your children’s views and language. 4. Stereotypes in the Media 1.

Think about presenting truthful and multifaceted images of different groups of people in the media, if you work for a news organization, advertising company or TV or radio station. Look at what other media outlets are doing as a guide for what to do or not to do. 10 Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society 2. Create advertising campaigns, TV shows or news programs where people, especially those from minority groups, are represented as well-rounded people instead of stock characters or stereotypical individuals to influence the public’s views. 3.

Look at content closely for stereotypes to actively work to end stereotypes. When you see stereotypical or prejudiced language, take out words or phrases in scripts that have a potential influence over the public’s perceptions. Ways to eliminate discrimination 1. Implement policies that prohibit discrimination in the workplace and school zones. Draft key points that fight discrimination, set them in stone and publicize them to employees and students. Such rules that fight discrimination would include firing, suspending or expelling those that use foul language, discriminatory jokes, name calling and foul body gestures.

Publicize the rules in the student and employee handbook, as well as posting flyers. Handbooks displaying the company or school code of conduct should be given to each employee or student upon admittance. Display flyers in popular spots among the work or school zone, such as in hallways, information boards, break rooms and restrooms. Make the work or school zone aware that not only is discrimination wrong, but it will not be tolerated. 2. Display the consequences if found guilty of discrimination though the policy handbook.

Give employees and students a workplace policy guide or the school’s code of ethics handbook which shows what might happen if one is found guilty of discrimination. Employees may be suspended without pay or fired from the job. Students may be suspended or expelled from school. Enforce the rules to stop discrimination. 3. Present meeting lectures and invite keynote speakers to talk about the negative short term and long term effects of discrimination in the workplace or school environment. Set yearly or monthly code of conduct meetings for employees to attend.

Yearly meetings may last up to an hour going over various forms of discrimination, while monthly meeting are shorter, only reminding associates or students that discrimination is not tolerated. Hosting long monthly meetings is not feasible, so some companies have “morning monthly huddles” to remind employees the rules of the workplace. Schools can hold keynote speakers that were victims of discrimination. Speakers can share to students why discrimination is wrong and how it can be avoided. Evaluate the progress of stopping discrimination.

Check to see if there was a decrease in workplace or school reports of 11 Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society discrimination through the human resources department or dean’s office. Hand out surveys after a meeting or lecture to see if there was a positive impact among the employees or students. Conclusion The last few decades have seen a period of rapid transition and dramatic structural transformation of the social fabric as well as significant expansion of educational and occupational opportunities.

Economic progress has brought gains but there have been costs as well. For a number of reasons, some areas and some groups have missed the fast train of economic development and have remained locked in a vicious circle of poverty, low motivation and social exclusion At a more general level, a major problem noted is that even if action has been taken in certain areas and recommendations made, there has been hesitation to implement recommendations either due to a lack of political will or difficulties in reaching national consensus on some issues.

Some notable examples can be found in the fields of education and governance. The population should be sensitized on controversial issues such as the regionalisation in education, health and reproductive rights, governance and the administration of law and order, human rights issues relating to women and children and vulnerable groups. This will help the population to reflect upon certain of these issues and make informed choices.

Much of the resistance is sometimes based on lack of information and comprehension of certain issue. National debates and a participatory approach should be encouraged on some of these issues to facilitate dialogue and eventual implementation of programmes. UN agencies have been very active in the fields of women and child rights, health and reproductive rights, education and the environment. There is still a great deal of work to be done in those areas and UN support should continue.

However some of the problems areas have become more acute and other new problems have emerged requiring urgent attention, notably problems of poverty and social exclusion of some regions, growing inequalities in educational opportunity, pressure on health services, rising abortion rates, law and order issues, electoral reform, public administration constraints, police and prison reforms, decentralisation and participatory democracy. One very fitting example is the problem of educational inequality and low performance in deprived areas.

This problem has multi-dimensional causes, linked to a number of issues related to poverty, health problems, environmental constraints, family problems such as domestic violence and alcoholism, weak 12 Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination in the Mauritian Society community networks leading to absence of effective political participation, problems at the level of control agencies such as the police and teachers, discrimination in the labour market etc. The issue of cultural diversity and artistic creativity could also be added to the list of issues impacting on social and educational inequalities.

UNESCO has already been involved in some programmes and could be integrated in this interagency collaboration. This is just one good example to show the importance of interagency collaboration and common programmes of action. Another very important finding of the assessment is the problem of the scarcity of data on certain issues, especially those related to poverty and inequalities. The absence of data in such areas does not only make it difficult to formulate appropriate policies but it also makes it difficult to achieve any consensus in the country on the issue.

The problem of social exclusion is an interesting case in point. Although some interesting research has been carried out (mentioned in section dealing with Social Development), the lack of reliable and detailed information on the extent and nature of the problem gives rise to varying or indeed contradictory appreciation of the problem. The absence of reliable data on this issue, which has ethnic undertones, continues to provoke considerable interethnic tension. It is urgent that more research be

Brandon Johnson
Author: Brandon Johnson
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