1.) Keep an open mind.
Discrimination isn’t always obvious. But if you feel as if you are experiencing discrimination, don’t rush to conclusions and just assume the worst. Instead, ask around. Investigate to see if others in your school or workplace have experienced similar situations. Understand that discrimination is usually a bigger issue than just you. Doing this will help you see the bigger picture of what is actually going on.
3.) Write it down.
When you feel you are being discriminated, you should write down what was said and by whom, including the time and date. This will help you keep track of how many times the discrimination has occurred and if it’s an ongoing process.
2.) Educate yourself.
You can contact the Office of Human Resources. Doing research about the laws against discrimination/harassment can help you learn more about what you are able to do, what you aren’t able to do, what discrimination is, and how discrimination can be proven in court. Knowledge is power.
4.) Talk to someone.
Keeping silent won’t fix the problem. You should talk to someone in a position of authority in school/work. Let them know what is going on. Letting someone know can help de-escalate the situation you are in., but you want to try and keep it as confidential as possible.
How to Appropiately
Helping Yourself...
5.) Repeat.
Repeat these steps until the discrimination stops. It may take a while, but it should eventually stop, if you continue to keep calm and ask for help from your peers. However, if the situation doesn’t improve, you can file a complaint at the Office of Human Resources, and the law will take care of the rest.
Photography by Anne Marie