Lived Experience of Modern Institutional Discrimination: Housing Discrimination

Focus Group: Latinx Immigrants

Scenario: A young Latinx couple, Sofia and Miguel, immigrated legally to the United States a few years ago. They have good jobs and are looking to rent an apartment. They find a promising listing online and contact the landlord. During the phone call, Sofia speaks with a slight accent, and Miguel has a Hispanic-sounding name. Their inquiry is met with a vague response about the apartment being unavailable, even though the listing remains active online. They call again with a different name and speaking without an accent, and are immediately invited to a showing.

Modern vs. Traditional Discrimination:

This scenario reflects modern institutional discrimination. Here’s the breakdown:

• Traditional discrimination:Openly excludes minorities based on race or ethnicity. (e.g., “No Blacks or Latinos allowed” signs)
• Modern discrimination:More subtle and covert. It uses seemingly neutral criteria (e.g., accent, name) that disproportionately affect minorities. It’s harder to prove but equally detrimental.

Affirmative Action:

• Combating Modern Discrimination:Affirmative action policies in housing could require landlords to consider applicants based on objective criteria like income and credit score, not subjective biases.
• Combating Traditional Discrimination:Affirmative action programs in housing could encourage landlords to market to diverse communities and implement fair housing policies.

Positive Changes for Immigrants:

• Language Access:Many government agencies and public services offer translated materials and interpretation services to better serve immigrants with limited English proficiency.
• Culturally Competent Programs:Schools and social services are increasingly trained to understand the unique needs and challenges faced by immigrant communities.

Conclusion:

Modern institutional discrimination presents a complex challenge, but through continued efforts to promote diversity, awareness, and fair practices, we can move towards a more equitable society.