Discrimination is present in many aspects of life, but I will concentrate on its role in education. Before I can discuss discrimination, I must define a couple of terms. Discrimination is, according to the Thorndike-Barnhart Dictionary, "a difference in attitude or treatment shown to a particular person or class." What this definition means is that any type of favoritism or bias for a person or persons of a certain gender or a particluar race is considered discrimination. At both the high school and universtiy levels, discrimination occurs whether it pertains to admissions or class enrollment. A student can be rejected a chance to participate in a certain class or activity because of their gender or skin color. In Rich's essay, she tries to encourage the crowd, to which she is speaking, by saying how important it is to know that women are just as good as men and by telling them that they "[have] enormous potential, even if that potential is as yet realized" (65). This is one aspect in which I agree with Rich. While gender equality is strived for, but not always attained, women, and minorities, should analyze the vices of today's educational system and use them as encouragement and incentives to show others that they are equal. A problem with gender and racial discrimination is that it is commonly used as an excuse or reason for, let's say, not getting into the school you want to go to or getting bad grades because your teacher doesn't like you. Even though your race or gender can affect the outcome.
of your life, it is still possible to overcome the restraints of this bias and receive the education.
needed to excel in life. I am a minority, half Cuban and half American, and, despite that fact, I .
have graduated from a well-known private school and I am now attending the also well-known, .
University of Georgia. I am not trying to say that all minorities will have the same opportunities.
