Embrace Your Beauty and

Strength. Find ways to

embrace and celebrate your
identity—the strength and
beauty of you being you. Read
books, talk to people, and go
to identity-affirming events.
Call upon trusted friends and
relatives, people with a healthy
sense of self, for support. Also
consider seeking the help of a
trained professional in your
area to create solutions
custom-fit to your particular
situation and needs.
2. Take Good Care of
Yourself and Learn to Cope.
One of the best ways you can
fight discrimination is by taking
good care of yourself. Your
survival is not just important;
it’s an act of revolution. Make
your life revolutionary by
exercising, eating healthy, and
finding ways to de-stress every
day.

3. Stand Up For Yourself. Let

others know how their words
and actions have affected you
and those you care about.
Fight for your rights. In order to
effect change, people need to
be made aware that a problem
exists. Contact your elected
representatives, the ACLU,
and the Office for Civil Rights.
The more people who can see
the real life impact and
injustice of what’s happening,
the more we can fight to end
discrimination once and for all.

4. Strategize and Know the

Consequences Before You
Act. There truly is a time for
daring and a time for caution,
and an intelligent person
knows the difference. Weigh
the costs and benefits and
decide for yourself what you’re
able, and willing, to do. Take
stock of yourself. Capitalize on
your strengths, and put a plan
in motion to compensate for
your weaknesses. Do your
best to protect yourself and
others and to minimize risk.
Timing is critical. Strategize
carefully to achieve maximum
impact.
5. Reach Out and Organize.
Don’t go it alone. People really
are stronger, and safer, when
they stand together. Mobilize
your friends, family, and co-
workers. We’re stronger when
we stand together, share our
stories, and make our voices
heard. Uniting with others who
face a similar situation as you
do can help you obtain the
resources and social support
you need to survive. They can
even give you a base to
mobilize should you decide to
organize and fight for your
rights.

_____Top 5 Ways to Overcome

Discrimination
08/06/2015 03:43 pm ET Updated Dec 06, 2017


Discrimination. Many of us are exposed to it every day, and the effects can be
devastating.

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The gender pay gap devalues women and their work to only 78 cents on the
dollar as compared to men. Many people don’t realize, let alone discuss, the
fact that Native Americans get shot by police more than any other group. And
even as we make strides towards LGBT equality, organizations like the Boy
Scouts of America still permit discrimination and hate crimes against
transgender people is on the rise, up 13 percent in the last year.

These are all expressions of institutionalized discrimination, and it’s been

shown by scientific research to wreak havoc in the personal and professional
lives of the average American citizen.

Studies have shown that gender discrimination is associated with increased

risk for drug abuse and is a critical factor in determining women’s health.
Homophobia puts LGBT people at significantly greater risk for depression,
anxiety, drug abuse, and suicide. Racism has also been shown to increase
blood pressure and mortality.

Mental and physical health effects are compounded for those who experience
multiple forms of discrimination. They also result in increased risk of absences
from work, increased rates of employment termination, and cost our national
economy untold millions of dollars.
Whether you’re on the front lines of a social movement or struggling with
discrimination in your daily life, it can be difficult to survive, let alone find your
way forward. Here are five important tips to help you in your journey:

1. Embrace Your Beauty and Strength. Find ways to embrace and celebrate
your identity—the strength and beauty of you being you. Read books, talk to
people, and go to identity-affirming events. Call upon trusted friends and
relatives, people with a healthy sense of self, for support. Also consider
seeking the help of a trained professional in your area to create solutions
custom-fit to your particular situation and needs.

2. Take Good Care of Yourself and Learn to Cope. One of the best ways
you can fight discrimination is by taking good care of yourself. Your survival is
not just important; it’s an act of revolution. Make your life revolutionary by
exercising, eating healthy, and finding ways to de-stress every day.

3. Stand Up For Yourself. Let others know how their words and actions have
affected you and those you care about. Fight for your rights. In order to effect
change, people need to be made aware that a problem exists. Contact your
elected representatives, the ACLU, and the Office for Civil Rights. The more
people who can see the real life impact and injustice of what’s happening, the
more we can fight to end discrimination once and for all.

4. Strategize and Know the Consequences Before You Act. There truly is
a time for daring and a time for caution, and an intelligent person knows the
difference. Weigh the costs and benefits and decide for yourself what you’re
able, and willing, to do. Take stock of yourself. Capitalize on your strengths,
and put a plan in motion to compensate for your weaknesses. Do your best to
protect yourself and others and to minimize risk. Timing is critical. Strategize
carefully to achieve maximum impact.
5. Reach Out and Organize. Don’t go it alone. People really are stronger,
and safer, when they stand together. Mobilize your friends, family, and co-
workers. We’re stronger when we stand together, share our stories, and make
our voices heard. Uniting with others who face a similar situation as you do
can help you obtain the resources and social support you need to survive.
They can even give you a base to mobilize should you decide to organize and
fight for your rights.

_____

DaShanne Stokes is an
author, speaker, commentator,
and civil rights activist.