READING RESPONSE 2- week 04
Oppression and Diversity
I'm going to analyze Arwa Mahdawi's talk about the surprising solution to workplace diversity. First
of all, her talks relates to the main topics of this week which are oppression and diversity.
Oppression represents the condition in which certain groups' rights and freedom are oppressed, just
because they are diverse respect the rest of the society. This week we are focusing on how being
diverse can harm people in a different way such as through stereotypes, exploitation,
marginalization, violence, and many others. Arwa is herself a minority but she mentions that she's a
3 minority for the price of one as she's brown, a woman, and gay, so she's diverse not only for one
condition but many other. Indeed her talk focuses on diversity at the workplace. For a company, she
represents not a simple worker but more opportunities ( the triple) even if she can be a treat also.
If a company hires her, they have 3 times the value at the same time because first of all, they are
proving to not be racist and that they do not discriminate, but in addition, studies show that
increasing diversity within a company makes it more successful. I've to say that i can relate to this
concept and situation as i'm a woman and brown as Arwa, but as i have lived and worked for a few
years in Italy, i cannot completely identify with it, as it is not common here to see so much diversity
within companies. In the company where I worked for 3 years, there were fewer women than men
and above all few of different nationalities.
Another issue that Arwa mentioned, is sexism, institutionalized sexism, and institutionalized racism
The first one refers to the belief that one sex is superior to the other, resulting in the discrimination
or devaluation of that gender and the roles related to it, while institutionalized sexism refers too to
gender discrimination but reflected in the policies and practices of organizations such as
governments, companies or public organizations. These are issues that even if more diversity is
being incorporated into businesses, continue to be persistent. Indeed more men find themselves in
higher job positions, while women perform basic roles always under the subordination of men.
Institutionalized racism is still present as immigrants have harder times getting a job than a
Oppression and Diversity
I'm going to analyze Arwa Mahdawi's talk about the surprising solution to workplace diversity. First
of all, her talks relates to the main topics of this week which are oppression and diversity.
Oppression represents the condition in which certain groups' rights and freedom are oppressed, just
because they are diverse respect the rest of the society. This week we are focusing on how being
diverse can harm people in a different way such as through stereotypes, exploitation,
marginalization, violence, and many others. Arwa is herself a minority but she mentions that she's a
3 minority for the price of one as she's brown, a woman, and gay, so she's diverse not only for one
condition but many other. Indeed her talk focuses on diversity at the workplace. For a company, she
represents not a simple worker but more opportunities ( the triple) even if she can be a treat also.
If a company hires her, they have 3 times the value at the same time because first of all, they are
proving to not be racist and that they do not discriminate, but in addition, studies show that
increasing diversity within a company makes it more successful. I've to say that i can relate to this
concept and situation as i'm a woman and brown as Arwa, but as i have lived and worked for a few
years in Italy, i cannot completely identify with it, as it is not common here to see so much diversity
within companies. In the company where I worked for 3 years, there were fewer women than men
and above all few of different nationalities.
Another issue that Arwa mentioned, is sexism, institutionalized sexism, and institutionalized racism
The first one refers to the belief that one sex is superior to the other, resulting in the discrimination
or devaluation of that gender and the roles related to it, while institutionalized sexism refers too to
gender discrimination but reflected in the policies and practices of organizations such as
governments, companies or public organizations. These are issues that even if more diversity is
being incorporated into businesses, continue to be persistent. Indeed more men find themselves in
higher job positions, while women perform basic roles always under the subordination of men.
Institutionalized racism is still present as immigrants have harder times getting a job than a
