Opinion – Michael França: Is social class discrimination the biggest?

Prejudices are part of being human. It is very easy and even practical to express an opinion in relation to a particular social group based on personal inferences and without in-depth foundation or critical reflection.

With regard to social class, some rich believe that the poor are lazy, that slums are places dominated by bandits, that music from the periphery is a degradation of our culture, that a maid should not travel by plane and a janitor’s son should not go to the faculty.

However, many people from disadvantaged backgrounds are not far behind when it comes to prejudice. The combination of a polo shirt and running shoes can kill an individual before he even opens his mouth.

Part of the prejudices arise from the fact that there is no greater interaction between different population groups. Brazilian society is divided and there is a mechanism that contributes to accentuate the deep social segregation: price discrimination.

It is easy to imagine, for example, two commercial establishments, operating on the same street, with identical products, but with very different audiences. Whoever has higher prices ends up excluding the low-income population.

In this scenario, from the perspective of many rich people, there are several reasons that lead them to pay more for a given product. In addition to the pleasure that some feel in demonstrating their social status in everyday relationships, there is also a desire to have contact with a more selected audience.

Given the country’s profound inequality, it is easy to see that several spaces are occupied by a very small portion of the population. While the richest 10% will have access to goods and services that other citizens may not have, there are privileges that only the richest 1% will enjoy.

An individual’s income will tell not only the places he will be able to frequent, but also the receptivity he will have. On the steps of the social pyramid, those at the bottom tend to occupy functions that are inferior to those on the steps above, and are often perceived by them as human beings of lesser value and not worthy of the same rights. Thus, discrimination generated by social position has the potential to affect the largest percentage of society.

In this context, blacks, who represent 56% of Brazilians, tend to be doubly affected. There is a clear legacy of slavery across the country’s slums. Years of white dominance over black compatriots have created a huge social chasm.

Thus, in addition to facing possible discrimination related to social position, black people also deal daily with potential manifestations of racism that, to a great extent, are veiled.

With regard to discrimination that affects women, who represent around 52% of the population, it should be remembered that a fraction of this percentage also suffers from class and racial discrimination.

In such a scenario, in certain contexts, it is common to see high-income white women calling attention to the lack of female representation in some spaces. However, when nominating candidates, they forget that in these places there is no black woman or person from a disadvantaged social background.

Advancing the gender equity agenda is critical. Just as it is important to guarantee better inclusion opportunities for the low-income and black population. Without it, the advancement of high-income white women can amplify existing inequalities. Since, in the end, a considerable proportion of them end up marrying high-income white people, thus increasing the disparity in per capita household income between social groups.

The text is a tribute to the song Zumbi, by Jorge Ben Jor.