Strangest Reasons for Discrimination: My Personal Experience

Discrimination can take many forms and be based on a wide range of factors, often leading to unfair and sometimes bizarre treatment. Two personal experiences have stuck with me due to their unusual nature, one from moving to Idaho with a partner and the other from a fashion-related incident in 1985. These experiences shed light on the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which discrimination still exists in our society.

Discrimination Based on Marital Status

The story began when I came to Idaho with my girlfriend, GF, to look for an apartment to rent. My application process went smoothly, but hers was met with a much different outcome. During my visit to Idaho, one of the properties I was applying for experienced a significant change in their approval process.

The first indication of trouble came when the property manager's assistant informed me that my application had been approved. However, the assistant stressed that if my girlfriend were found on the property, she would be facing arrest and I would risk eviction. Interestingly, no direct communication with the head manager himself occurred. This brought to light the discriminatory nature of the situation, which arose from the fact that we were not married and Idaho, being a conservative Mormon territory, had specific unwritten rules.

Discrimination Based on Fashion Choices

The other incident took me back to 1985 when I was in college and my younger brother, who was in high school, assisted me in updating my wardrobe and hairstyle. In just one afternoon at the mall, I underwent a complete transformation from one look to another.

Back then, I switched from a more traditional outfit to a more colorful and trendy one. For the occasion, I was wearing a bright, colorful short, bright plaid long-shorts, and a fluorescent green swatch watch. Towards the end of that afternoon, my brother and I ventured into a department store where we were surveilled by security. We were suspected of being "thugs" due to the way we were dressed and were searched and verbally harassed by the security personnel.

Despite the aggressive demeanor of the security staff, they eventually decided not to call the police and let us go after searching us. Although I do not believe the security officers really called the police, the experience illustrates the discriminative nature of the security’s response to our unexpected and colorful attire.

Conclusion

Whether based on marital status or fashion choices, these incidents demonstrate the prevalence of discrimination in everyday life. It serves as a reminder to always be aware of the unconscious biases that may influence our judgments and the importance of creating a more inclusive and accepting society.

Keywords: discrimination, personal experience, fashion