How much of perceived discrimination is actually real?

No one can deny that discrimination exists everywhere. Often, when a country or society claims to be free from it, they’re simply covering up the issue, like straw hiding water beneath—unseen yet easy to slip into. This suggests that discrimination is often hidden beneath claims of foggy justice. When people feel wronged or less, for one reason or another, or have something that makes them feel like a minority or different from others, they may begin to interpret everything they dislike as possible discrimination, seeing bias even in things they don’t fully understand. This can make others feel as though they’re walking on eggshells, constantly worried about misunderstandings or unintended misinterpretations.Read: Dr. Jabir Jassam: The immigrantsThe issue can escalate to a point where people are frequently accused of being racist without basis. These accusations have, for some accusers, become a lifeline—a tool for threat, revenge or a way to feel vindicated.DTC formOne of my patients, who was otherwise completely healthy and had no medical conditions, asked me to fill out a disability tax credit form for him. I advised him that I would need to document any actual conditions he might have to justify a disability claim. He responded, “You can find something for me.” I explained that my role isn’t to “find” something but rather to accurately report any existing medical issues—and, based on his current health, there was nothing to document.He became visibly frustrated and asked why I had completed a similar form for another one of my patients. I suggested he speak directly with this other patient if they had a close relationship, so he could better understand what legitimate medical conditions warranted the form. He replied that the other patient was actually healthier than him and implied that I had done it because we share the same background. He then added, “This is discrimination, and I will report you.” I responded calmly, saying, “Please do.”A scar studyA study I read recently explored this whole dynamic by having women wear artificial scars for job interviews to examine discrimination based on appearance. In the study, the women first saw the scars on their faces before the interviews. But just before they went in, the researchers pretended to adjust the scars and instead removed them entirely without the women knowing. Believing they still had scars, the women later reported clear discrimination, citing perceived reactions and specific comments from interviewers as proof, though there were, in fact, no visible scars.When I began downsizing my practice and informed patients (they’d been randomly selected) about ending our medical relationship, I encountered many challenges, some surprisingly serious:An Arab patient asked, “Are you dismissing me because I’m Arab?” A non-Arab patient questioned, “Would you have dismissed me if I were Arab?” A patient from Africa commented, “Of course, you’d choose someone with dark skin.”And so it continued.‘Irrational interpretations’The days of simplicity, honesty and realism seem to be gone, replaced by a fear of irrational interpretations. Now, we often say what we don’t mean and mean what we can’t say, hiding our true thoughts to avoid accusations or judgments that may be baseless but are easily believed.Life has become more complex than we ever expected. Rather than focusing on creating happiness or ease for others, we’re increasingly caught up in interpreting words or actions as slight or discrimination.We’re pressured to suppress our opinions to avoid misinterpretation or having them taken out of context which may potentially lead to social rejection—or even legal consequences. It feels impossible to correct someone without being seen as offensive, and if that person is part of a minority group, it’s instantly labeled as discrimination.We’re walking on fragile ground, uncertain of when a misunderstood comment, a slip of the tongue, or an unpopular opinion might lead to unforeseen consequences.I am wondering. . . .How much of what’s perceived as discrimination is actually real?Dr. Jabir Jassam is a family physician in Ottawa.

How much of perceived discrimination is actually real?

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