Question

The following are two caselets. Read them individually and discuss the questions at the end in small groups.

• A group of students makes fun of Rohan’s weight; they nickname him ‘Drummy’. They make it difficult for him to join their football game, joking that he would be competing with the football. Everyone around notices this behaviour of the group.
• Mina’s school announced an overnight educational trip to a historical site. Many of her classmates were excited and enrolled immediately. Mina, however, did not; she knew that her family would not able to afford paying for it. When her friends found out, some started ignoring her, whispering to each other that she “wasn’t fun”, “never joined anything”, or “was not of their status”. Mina felt hurt and left out.

What are the types of discrimination you can identify in the examples given above? What would you do if you were part of the groups? Have you faced discrimination yourself? What did you do about it?

Answer 1

Case 1: Rohan:
Rohan is being discriminated against because of his body weight and physical appearance. His classmates make fun of him, call him a hurtful nickname, and prevent him from joining their football game. This is bullying and can seriously hurt his feelings, confidence, and self-respect.

Case 2: Mina:
Mina is being discriminated against because of her family’s economic condition. She cannot afford to go on the school trip, but instead of understanding her situation, her classmates ignore her and make insulting comments. This is economic discrimination and social exclusion.

• If I were part of these groups, I would speak up against such behaviour and tell my classmates that making fun of or excluding someone is wrong. I would support Rohan and Mina, include them in activities, and treat them with kindness and respect. If the behaviour continued, I would inform a teacher, parent, or another trusted adult so that appropriate action could be taken.
• This is a personal question. If I had faced discrimination, I would share my experience honestly and explain how I dealt with it. I would try to remain calm, talk to someone I trust, and seek help if necessary. I would also make sure that I do not treat others unfairly because of their appearance, financial background, culture, or any other difference.

Discrimination is unfair and can make people feel hurt, isolated, and less confident. We should respect everyone's differences, stand against bullying, and create an environment where every person feels accepted, valued, and included.