Introduction
One of the darkest periods in human history was the Holocaust during World War II. Millions of Jews, Roma, Sinti, homosexuals, disabled people, and others that the Nazi regime judged “undesirable” were subjected to systematic persecution and mass death during this time. Today’s lifestyles seem considerably more fortunate and secure than the lives of those who perished in the Holocaust.
The Second Sino-Japanese War’s tragic Nanjing Massacre, which took place in 1937, caused tremendous agony to the Chinese people. Between 200,000 and 300,000 people are thought to have perished during this violent time. In light of such savagery, we can only speculate how hopeless the Chinese people must have felt. Despite progress in civil and human rights, many people in modern society continue to experience discrimination, bias, and social marginalization.
Annotated Bibliography
Payne, Emma A., and David Berle. “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms among Offspring of Holocaust Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Traumatology, vol. 27, no. 3, 2021, pp. 254–264. Web.
Two of the most horrifying incidents in contemporary history are the Holocaust and the Nanjing Massacre. In all instances, marginalization, bigotry, and discrimination caused millions of people to suffer and die. Even though they take on different shapes today, our society still has the same problems.
A significant segment of the population continues to experience discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization despite the progress made in civil rights and human rights (Payne and Berle 259). The fact that people from minority origins continue to experience inequalities in wealth, education, and work prospects is proof of this. Also, hate crimes, discrimination, and other physical and mental abuse frequently target these people.
The psychological toll that discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization take on people is among their most striking effects. For instance, Payne and Berle (260) showed that these individuals had higher PTSD symptom rates than their peers. The authors pointed out that this might result from discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization. Similarly to this, those who the Nanjing Massacre impacted are also more susceptible to psychological problems, including anxiety and sadness.
Payne and Berle’s (620) conclusions are especially concerning when considering the similarities between the Holocaust and current occurrences. The same forms of oppression, violence, and dehumanization that existed during the Holocaust exist now. The emergence of human trafficking and the use of sexual assault as a weapon of war are examples it is even more extreme. Thisindicates that even those who were not actively involved in these events nonetheless experience the psychological repercussions of them today.
Xie, Kailing. “The Affective Life of the Nanjing Massacre.” HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory, vol. 11, no. 3, 2021, pp. 1000–1015. Web.
Many people were still suffering from the trauma of the incident decades after it occurred, according to a study by Xie, Kailing, that looked at the consequences of the Nanjing Massacre on people living in China today. According to the survey, the Nanjing Massacre survivors struggled with significant loss and despair. The study also discovered that intense guilt, shame, and rage still marked the survivors’ lives. The study also found that the Nanjing Massacre survivors had deep-seated fears of violence and war that they had carried with them their entire lives.
The Holocaust and the Nanjing Massacre have also impacted other aspects of life. For instance, many citizens of nations who went through the Holocaust or the Nanjing Massacre have been reticent to share their stories with others out of concern that they will be judged or punished (Xie, 1010). A widespread mistrust of authoritative figures, especially those in positions of authority, has also grown among many people. Many people distrust organizations and governments because of this mistrust, even those there to protect them.
In addition, Xie (1012) notes that the survivors frequently experience feelings of remorse and humiliation for failing to shield their families from the massacre’s bloodshed and fatalities. Due to their inability to express their trauma, they also struggle with feeling distant from their family. The survivors and their families frequently endure intense loss and grief because they cannot grieve for their loved ones who died in the massacre.
Zimmermann, Sarah, and Simon Forstmeier. “From Fragments to Identity: Reminiscence, Life Review and Well-Being of Holocaust Survivors. an Integrative Review.” Aging & Mental Health, vol. 24, no. 4, 2020, pp. 525–549. Web.
Today’s society is still affected by the prejudice, discrimination, and marginalization that Holocaust survivors endured. In particular, discrimination against people of different racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual orientations continues to be pervasive. Additionally, xenophobic policies and rhetoric frequently target underprivileged populations like immigrants and refugees. Feelings of exclusion and alienation, like those endured by Holocaust survivors, might result from the marginalization of specific communities (Zimmermann and Forstmeier 530). Moreover, many oppressed groups still don’t recognize or acknowledge their struggles.
Additionally, “othering” is still widely used in modern society. Considering particular groups as different from or “other” than the majority is known as othering. Members of marginalized groups may experience feelings of isolation and alienation, making it challenging for them to feel included and welcomed. One of history’s most horrific instances of othering was the Holocaust. Jews were identified and separated from the rest of German society during the Holocaust (Zimmermann and Forstmeier 540). They experienced heinous acts of cruelty and tyranny because they were considered less than human and inferior. Six million Jewish people were murdered at the hands of this othering.
Unfortunately, the idea of “othering” still permeates modern society. Interactions between groups of people from various racial, ethnic, or religious origins demonstrate this. People are frequently referred to as “the other” and judged to be substandard or dangerous. As a result, there may be prejudice, feelings of exclusion, and estrangement.
Since the Holocaust, there have thankfully been numerous improvements that have helped to lessen the prevalence of othering (Zimmermann and Forstmeier 548). Laws protecting minorities from discrimination have been passed, and countless educational programs have been launched to foster acceptance and understanding. Many organizations have also been created to support marginalized populations in getting access to resources and services. Although there is still much to be done, these initiatives have contributed to developing a more inclusive society.
Holocaust Museum Houston, Web.
The Holocaust serves as a sobering reminder of how hatred and prejudice may render a group of people unworthy of respect. The Nazi administration utilized legislation during the Holocaust to deny Jews their fundamental human rights and to make discrimination against them lawful. For instance, the Nuremberg and Berlin Laws of 1935 prohibited Jews from marrying or engaging in sexual activity with non-Jews, barred them from certain professions, and revoked their civil liberties (Holocaust Museum Houston). These laws also deprive Jews of their citizenship, making them open to deportation and leaving them without a state.
The Holocaust also serves as a cautionary tale about how easily people can become complicit in crimes occurring right before them. The German people’s cooperation or complicity in the Nazi regime’s anti-Semitic practices allowed it to carry out its plans (Holocaust Museum Houston). This is demonstrated by the fact that the bulk of the victims were Jews from Germany and other European nations and that many concentration camps were situated in Germany itself.
The fact that human rights are being violated in numerous nations worldwide shows that this still occurs today. For instance, a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has resulted in claims of mass murder, torture, and rape. In Venezuela, there have been reports of illegal arrests, suffering, and protester homicides due to the government’s crackdown on civil freedoms (Holocaust Museum Houston). Atrocities like systematic torture, sexual assault, and even chemical weapons attacks against people have been committed in Syria due to the civil war. People have participated in crimes against humanity in each of these instances, either directly or by choosing to ignore the suffering of others.
Kaplan, Marion. “Did Gender Matter during the Holocaust?” Jewish Social Studies, vol. 24, no. 2, 2019, pp. 37–56. Web.
The discrimination women experienced during the Holocaust is shown in Marion Kaplan’s article, “Did Gender Matter During the Holocaust?” Because the Nazi ideology conceived of women as the inferior sex, women experienced various degrees of discrimination and oppression. Jewish women were singled out for abuse and exploitation because of their religious beliefs (Kaplan 40). The fact that women frequently were not permitted to engage in the same activities as men, such as resistance movements, to defend themselves or their families, further intensified this gender-based discrimination.
Different types of gender-based oppression and discrimination still exist today. Women still don’t have the same opportunities as men in politics, business, and education. They frequently do not have access to the same resources as males, such as essential services and healthcare.
Women are also more likely to endure poverty and violence in the home and in society. Women and girls are frequently the victims of sexual assault, human trafficking, and rape, a severe problem. Men often use violence to keep control over women, and this violence is frequently tied to power relations (Kaplan 39). Domestic violence, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, is more likely to affect women. Women are occasionally subjected to prostitution and forced marriage.
Moreover, women are frequently denied bodily autonomy and authority. For instance, women are commonly prohibited from making choices regarding their reproductive health, such as whether to get an abortion. They risk being exploited and abused because they have little control over their bodies. In the workplace, women continue to face wage inequalities, job segregation, and a lack of upward mobility, which are all manifestations of gender inequality (Kaplan 53). Additionally, women are more likely to work in low-paying, low-skill occupations and experience harassment and discrimination at work.
Cole, Tim. “Space and Place: Placing Everyday Life during the Holocaust.” On the Social History of Persecution, 2023, pp. 139–156. Web.
In his work titled “Space and Place: Placing Everyday Life During the Holocaust,” Cole explores how the physical and geographic distinctions that the Nazi dictatorship imposed affected the daily lives of individuals persecuted during the Holocaust. According to Cole (145), the physical and geographic boundaries set by the Nazis significantly impacted the lives of individuals under persecution. Jews, for instance, were frequently confined to ghettos and were subject to some rules and restrictions that impeded their ability to move freely and access resources. However, those who were not subject to the Nazi dictatorship were free to travel around and utilize resources without concern for discrimination or prosecution.
Many of the exact geographic and physical boundaries utilized to oppress and discriminate against minority groups during the Holocaust are still used today. For instance, many states in the United States have laws that limit the rights of minority groups, especially those of African-American and Hispanic origin (Cole 145). These regulations frequently restrict access to housing, education, and work possibilities. Additionally, gerrymandering is commonly used to create geographic divisions that limit minority groups’ political influence and prevent them from being represented in government.
Numerous minority groups are also victims of institutional racism and police brutality. African-Americans and other minority groups have increasingly been the targets of police abuse in the United States, resulting in deaths. This illustrates how geographic and physical distinctions continue to oppress minority populations today.
Economic divisions are another tool used to restrict minority groups’ access to the workforce (Cole 145). For instance, the homes of African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be poor than those of White people. This is because they frequently lack access to resources like employment, education, and healthcare, all of which can be challenging to find because of the geographic and physical boundaries that exist in our society.
Despite the advancements in civil rights and human rights, many critics of these causes contend that prejudice, marginalization, and discrimination are inescapable aspects of life and should not be opposed. They claim these problems have always existed and are a natural aspect of human nature (Ellis and Rawicki 610). They also contend that fighting discrimination is an unattainable objective and that people should accept it as a fact of life and move on.
This perspective, however, ignores that prejudice, marginalization, and discrimination are not a part of human nature. Instead, these problems result from societal conceptions that have grown over time (Ellis and Rawicki 610). For instance, the Nazi regime’s anti-Semitic actions during the Holocaust were motivated by a lengthy history of Jewish political, social, and economic subjugation rather than a natural hate of Jews. Similar to the Nanjing Massacre, Chinese persecution has a long history. In both situations, the powerful created and spread prejudice and hatred to support their repressive behavior.
Conclusion
In conclusion, discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization still affect many people today, and the Holocaust and the Nanjing Massacre represent two of the darkest moments in human history. While many educational initiatives to promote acceptance and tolerance have been undertaken, as well as laws protecting minorities from discrimination, there is still more to be done.This guarantees everyone is treated with respect and decency, regardless of their background or political views. It is crucial to remember this past, utilize it as a lesson on defending everyone’s rights, and acknowledge current initiatives to combat prejudice, marginalization, and discrimination.