Ending Social Discrimination under capitalism

[MarxSchmarx]

Can some forms social discrimination (racism, sexism, ageism, etc...) be largely eliminated in a capitalist society? If so, which ones, and why? If not, why not?

I mean not just legally, but socially as well.

One precedent might be religion in some first world countries. It used to be a big deal if you were athiest, agnostic Catholic, Buddhist, Jewish, Pentacostal whatever. Now I think most people don't particularly care, or if they do, it's more ideological, as in, "I can't believe you're dumb enough to believe that shit". But the point is it isn't a result of capitalist divide and conquerism or a feudal legacy. Although I think there's still a lot of suspicion against cult members.

Curious to hear everyone's thoughts.

[Lead Headache]

Discrimination is impossible to eradicate entirely, it always exists everywhere. It may not be in the form of, say, lynching or other radical discrimination, even the Holocaust, but in the form of giving an African American worker a smaller salary than that of the white workers.

Especially religious descrimination. People are willing to blow themselves up along with 25 other civilians, because they don't like those people's religion.

Discrimination is, these days, much less than it once was. But it will never be fully defeated, because someone out there will discriminate a woman or a person of another race without thinking. It just happens. We can't fully defeat it.

[MarxSchmarx]

I feel you've set an unreasonably high standard for "ending social discrimination" . If this meant zero incidents, I agree it will never be accomplished, maybe even in the communist future.

I don't think religiously motivated crimes constitute social discrimination. Homegrown religious fanaticism is extremely marginal in the first world; there is simply no socially tolerated, large-scale religiously motivated crime there. Violent crime has many sources in capitalism, but it is still extremely rare (expect in a few places) and religious fanaticism is just one among many motives for it.

[Sankofa]

I think in theory, it's certainly possible to virtually eliminate all types of social discrimination. It's illegal now for institutions to be racist socially, but I assume we can all agree that nothing's changed; not really.

However, in Capitalism, it's not going anywhere. Capitalism thrives off the divisions between the people suffering under its system. Regardless how much "anti-discrimination" laws they pass, nothing is ever going to change; especially when dark skinned people are abused on a state level, at home and abroad.

Discrimination is one of the children of Capitalism, and it won't disappear until we take away the system that allows for it to exist.

[Black Dagger]

Social discrimination will continue as long as society continues to function along hierarchal lines - unless social prejudice is eliminated (doubtful under capitalism) the continued existence of authority provides the structural basis needed for discriminatory practices.

[Static]

Racism cannot be eliminated as long as we have protestantism and ignorant people in the capital society. Sexism and ageism, if we try hard enough, we could root out.

[MarxSchmarx]

Racism cannot be eliminated as long as we have protestantism and ignorant people in the capital society. Sexism and ageism, if we try hard enough, we could root out.

Don't you think protestantism is virulently sexist?

Why do you think we can overcome sexism and ageism in capitalism?

bd, what do you make of yonkers's point that de jure discrimination is counteracted by conflicting forms of authority, some of which may be committed to ending discrimination (e.g. the state passing anti-discrimination laws)?

[Black Dagger]

bd, what do you make of yonkers's point that de jure discrimination is counteracted by conflicting forms of authority, some of which may be committed to ending discrimination (e.g. the state passing anti-discrimination laws)?

Well he basically negated his own point, I.E. "I think in theory, it's certainly possible to virtually eliminate all types of social discrimination. It's illegal now for institutions to be racist socially, but I assume we can all agree that nothing's changed; not really." Basically, whilst declaring discrimination 'illegal' is a nice sentiment - it's a thoroughly liberal approach. The idea being that all we have to do is outlaw something like discriminaition and it'll go away, or otherwise be taken off - using this logic some people even claim 'racism doesn't really exist' anymore - because there aren't jim crow laws on the books or what-have-you - but one only needs to look at how Black and Latino peoples are fairing against the criminal 'justice' to see the law is failing us.

Whilst making discrimination illegal is a necessary step, the state sees this as an end (or rather the end) instead of the most basic step towards combating prejudice socially - and that's the problem. Anti-discrimination can project the idea that 'discrimination' or prejudice no longer exists or has been abolished - and in a class society that is a dangerous notion.

[YSR]

It used to be a big deal if you were athiest, agnostic Catholic, Buddhist, Jewish, Pentacostal whatever. Now I think most people don't particularly care, or if they do, it's more ideological, as in, "I can't believe you're dumb enough to believe that shit".

A University of Minnesota study from a couple of years ago indicates that atheists are the least trusted minority in the United States, less than homosexuals and Muslims.