1

BRAINSTORMING

Discrimination

1. Culture
Religion
Behaviour
Language
Education
Tradition
2. Jealousy
3. Disrespect
4. Personal hatred/ Xenophobic
5. Arrogance
6. Self-superiority (superiority over others)
7. Situation in actual society on:
International stage
National level (Mauritius)
General population
8. Multicultural democracy
National Unity- A common sentence in politics
9. Casteism
10. Schism (division of groups by different beliefs)
11. Freedom of expression- Human Rights
Declaration
Self-opinion
Racism
Persecution on different choices (mute violence)
Use of modern media of communication (Internet, social website, newspaper, radio)
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Aforethoughts ( sudden image that crop up when we hear of something)
12. Level of Education
Maturity/ understanding
Upbringing
Perception
Definition of literacy
Prejudice (orthodox views)
Conduct
13. Racial Discrimination status is now regarded as an offence (according to law)
14. Differentiation
Sharing-The word which is absent and which has led to discrimination
15. Mauritius;
National flag representation (Religious NGOs- the difference in colours of the flag)
National gatherings (When all are united, One population, One voice, e.g when a
country is represented by atheletes or delegates at international levels)
Mauritian youth thoughts
Unfavorable reactions (Recent outbursts of cases regarding this topic)
16. Conservation and extinction of beliefs
17. Woman emancipation: The greatest win against discrimination
18. Apartheid
19. Evolution from We to I
20. Presage: A sign of something worse
21. Non-egalitarian
22. Stigma





3

LITERATURE REVIEW

Direct Quotes:

The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without
discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other
status.

(THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, 2012)

The constitution recognizes four ethnic groups: Hindus, Muslims, Chinese and General
Population. The first two identititags are determined by religion, the third is race determined
and the last group is made up of anyone who does not fall within the first three groups-an ethnic
ragbag.

(VIRAHSAWMY, D., 2010, p.4)

After all there is one race - humanity

(Merriam, W., 1992, p.351)

A very basic and traditional definition of culture is that it is the accumulation of customs values
and artifacts shared by a people (Persell, 1987, pp. 47-48). Even more basic is the definition
offered by Herskovits that culture is the the human-made part of the environment (Lonner,
1994, p. 231)

(SCHRIVER, J.M., 2004, p.21)

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes
freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others
and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and
observance.

(UK LEGISLATION, 2012)

Paraphrases:

Discrimination is the prejudicial or distinguishing treatment of an individual based on his or her
membership - or perceived membership - in a certain group or category, based on irrational
decision making.

(GIDDENS et al., 2009, p. 334)



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Freedom to manifest ones religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are
prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for
the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms
of others.

(UK LEGISLATION, 2012)

This is where I should belong with all Mauritians who believe in an Almighty God but cannot be
at ease within any religious institutions tag; with Mauritians who are freethinkers: with
Mauritians who choose to live with a loved one who belongs to another group, and if that means
we are forging a new identity then so be it.

(VIRAHSAWMY, D., 2010, p.4)

Microagressions are those verbal offensive and non-verbal offensive communications in regards
to those of different skin colors or beliefs which make one feel degraded in dignity and unwanted
for ones identity.

(SCHRIVER, J.M., 2004, pp.245-246)

Caste minorities are those who assumed by the dominant group as inherently inferior in all
respects and those unworthy of sharing power equally with. In general caste minorities are not
allowed to compete for the most desirable roles on the basis of meritocracy and are forced to
comply with the less desirable roles that further stigmatize their low position in society.

(SCHRIVER, J.M., 2004, p. 241)

Summary:

The discrimination in the local Public Service Commission against a certain group due to
political belief still exists according to political and employment unions heads in spite of the
prevalence of the Equal Opportunities Act. The follow-up cure against the negative effect of
casteism on the socioeconomic meter of the country would be to put into practice the famous
National Unity quote.

(LE DEFIMEDIA GROUP, 2012)









5

ORGANISATION OF IDEAS


Title: Cultural Discrimination in Mauritius- An unresolved stain

Introduction:
Definition of key words-culture and discrimination,
Overview note on the topic.

Body and Development:

1. Social Class/Caste:
Equal Opportunity Act
Minority Groups( Sex-workers, disabled persons)
Politics, the weapon of disintegration,
Cure.

2. Race/Religion (Main issue):

Identity Ragbag,
United Nations(UN) declaration,
Religious NGOs and their notorious influence,
Solution.

3. Colour/ Skin Features:

Microagressions-aborting emotions and feelings,
Resolution converging to a sharing culture.

4. Gender:
Positive scope,
Behind the curtain analysis in the country,
Remedy towards the actual meaning of equality.

Ending:

Our views and opinions
Can the actual situation be changed?



Nothing better that can make us any better than anyone else


6

Cultural Discrimination in Mauritius- An unresolved
stain


Cultural discrimination, a flawless flaw of society, is proclaimed as the prejudicial or
distinguishing treatment of an individual based on his or her culture in a certain group or
category, based on irrational decision making (GIDDENS et al., 2009, p. 334). If we are to ask
ourselves how we have associated discrimination and culture, then to find the answer we have to
go back to the roots of the definition of culture. Culture is human-made and it is traditionally
recognized as the accumulation of customs values and artifacts shared by a people
(SCHRIVER, J.M., 2004, p.21). Thus, the simple answer is the absence of the word share
substituted by the cancerous word divide in the new modern definition of culture. And here it
leads us to the standpoint to assess this unresolved cultural discrimination stain in our beloved
Mauritius.

By dint of the United Nations declaration which is put in black on white; The enjoyment of all
the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on
any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status. (THE
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, 2012)

The first section is that of social caste or mostly known as the casteism phenomenon. Casteism
breeds minorities as well as superiorities. By definition, caste minorities are those who are
assumed by the dominant group as inherently inferior in all respects and those unworthy of
sharing power equally with (SCHRIVER, J.M., 2004, p. 241). In general caste minorities are not
allowed to compete for the most desirable roles in the country on the basis of meritocracy and
are forced to comply with the less desirable roles that further stigmatize their low position in
local society. While the always incrementing list of cast minorities include disabled-persons, sex-
workers, poor families, ex-detained prisoners and alien nationals, there exists political affiliation,
the talk of the country. Despite the prevalence of the Equal Opportunities Act in the country, new
caste minorities are still being born and refused to an equal identity which has been testified by
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comments of political and employment unions heads regarding the Public Service
Commissions system of selections for employments.

The follow-up cure against the negative effect of casteism the country would be to put into
practice rather than only claiming the famous National Unity -a possible meaning would be to
be united by all culture in one and divided by none.

Religious discrimination is the single spark that has started the cultural discrimination prairie fire
in Mauritius. As per Dev Virahsawmy, a famous Mauritian linguist, The constitution recognizes
four ethnic groups: Hindus, Muslims, Chinese and General Population. The first two
identititags are determined by religion, the third is race determined and the last group is made
up of anyone who does not fall within the first three groups-an ethnic ragbag. (2010, p.4) The
core problem is with religious Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which bear their
existence in the country that have divided the national unity-the seldom multicultural
characteristic Mauritius. While each of these religious organisations have torn the flag and
tagged itself with a special colour of identification, these had same subsequent behaviour of
division and notorious influence on the followers. Eventually it has dissociated the society and
made it known that in reality we have not accepted each other but made a false claim of it. This
attitude predicates onto which Great War of Humanity awaits us!

Where I side today, I choose to be there where I would belong with all Mauritians who believe
in an Almighty God but cannot be at ease within any religious institutions tag; with Mauritians
who are freethinkers: with Mauritians who choose to live with a loved one who belongs to
another group, and if that means we are forging a new identity then so be it.

The proceeding penumbra is that of discrimination due to colour and skin features known as the
racial discrimination issue. It took no time to spread in our local culture that has stirred our
thoughts to non-acceptance of the people who are different in looking from us. When we speak
of racism, rejection comes to play. Many people are living with the affliction of such persecution
called microagressions. Microagressions are those verbal offensive and non-verbal offensive
communications in regards to those of different skin colors or beliefs which make one feel
degraded in dignity and unwanted for ones identity (SCHRIVER, J.M., 2004, pp.245-246).
8

Maybe scars can fade away but these are those pertinent emotional thorns that cannot be
removed or healed. For I share the same colour of blood as you, the same number of
chromosomes as you then why discriminate?

I would prefer to let my words and actions heal and not hurt and to share for what I am with
you and share for what you are with me.

The next step in the ladder of cultural discrimination is that of sex-discrimination, a situation
whereby there is one sex termed the weaker and oppressed sex. This twenty first century date
bears testimony to the fact that this is an old lie. As much as the world has evolved, the
Mauritian society has been in same line of development and reality that has complied with the
status of women on the same par as men. But it remains a reality that despite being publicly
abolished, there are some indirect ways whereby the feminine sex is disfavored. A simple way to
illustrate that is the wages of women in the walks of many fields, where they earn a lower salary
than their male counterparts for the same job, where they are not deservedly recognized and
hereby not promoted for their dedication or whether the burden of both traditional and modern
roles rest upon them. The actual situation where Mauritius finds itself is not drastic but has
surely scope to advance.

I would respect equality in its true sense and subsequently let people wake up from their
dreams and accept their counterparts for their own personality in rightful and rational measures.

There have been many recent outbursts of cases in target to cultural discrimination in the country
which would be preferably not mentioned. The reason behind these scenes has been common and
termed as a misuse of the cultural rights conferred to one through the instrument of media. As
much media has had an influence over our lives, here we are facing a breach or an exaggeration
of cultural expression. As the Article 9 of the UKs declaration pinpointed the following
statement:-
Freedom to manifest ones religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are
prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for
the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms
of others (UK LEGISLATION, 2012). Since where ones right ends, the other ones right starts,
9

I believe I shall not overlap nor duplicate my rights with the mutual respect and honour for the
next.

The title is surely cultural discrimination, an unresolved stain now but soon to be cultural
discrimination, the resolved stain. This puzzle can be solved if the Is above are replaced by
Wes. On this note, we can firmly perceive to believe that it can be achieved. A battle won
would mean others to follow and if battles are won, then we can proclaim ourselves winners of
this war raising our banner high- After all there is one race-humanity. Here we leave the
decision to you, whether to be part of that generation of the Mauritian population which not only
on seeing its athletes perform, or when supporting a common team ,or while being in school
stand together but at all times choose to be under one nation, one pride, one Mauritius!































10

REFERENCES

Electronic sources:

UK LEGISLATION, 2012, Human Rights Acts 199[online]. Available from:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/schedule/1 [Accessed September 7 2012].

THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, 2012, PREAMBLE, Article 18
[online]. Available from: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml [Accessed
September 20 2012].

LUTCHMAYA, J., 2012, Castisme dans la Fonction publique Est-ce seulement une
perception ?[online], MAURITIUS ,LE DEFI MEDIA GROUP. Available from:
http://www.defimedia.info/polemique/item/15781-
%E2%80%98cast%C3%A9isme%E2%80%99-dans-la-fonction-publique.html [Accessed
September 20 2012].

Newspaper:

VIRAHSAWMY, D., 2010, Identitag or ethnic ragbag, News on Sunday, 4
th
June, p. 4

Books:

SCHRIVER, J.M., 2004, Human Behaviour and The Social Environment, Library of Congress
Cataloging-in Publication Data, p.21

GIDDENS, A., DUNEIER, M., APPELBAUM, R.P., CARR, D., 2009, Introduction to
sociology, 7
th
ed., New York: W. W. Norton & Company Inc., p.334

MERRIAM, W., 1992, The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations, Springfield: Springfield
Publishers., p.351