Coronavirus viewed as a catalyst by antidiscrimination authorities
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany has seen a significant increase in discrimination cases, with more than 6,000 cases registered by the end of November 2020, compared to 3,200 in the same period the previous year.
The surge in discrimination can be attributed to several interrelated causes. Caregiving and parental responsibilities have intensified challenges for parents and unpaid caregivers, particularly in academic and professional settings. Performance evaluations often failed to account for parental leave, child-rearing, or caregiving periods, disadvantaging these groups.
Bias in performance reviews also played a role, with reviewers exhibiting discriminatory attitudes regarding gender, age, and care responsibilities, penalizing candidates for extended PhD durations or part-time work during the pandemic.
Broader social inequities, exacerbated by the pandemic, increased discrimination risks in vulnerable communities, though specific data on Germany is limited. The pandemic disrupted work, family routines, and mental health disproportionately among socially vulnerable groups.
Discrimination led to exclusion or disadvantage in funding, employment, academic progression, and access to health services, intensifying existing inequalities. Caregivers and parents faced barriers to career advancement and research opportunities due to inflexible age limits and non-recognition of caregiving disruptions during COVID-19.
Mental health disparities were highlighted, with digital divides affecting access to telemental health services, particularly for older or socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals.
Studies and advocacy groups are analyzing these discriminatory tendencies in sectors like academia, calling for reforms such as adopting "academic age" that incorporates caregiving time and standardizing non-discriminatory review processes. Recommendations include revising funding criteria to reflect pandemic-related caregiving impacts and implementing anti-bias training for evaluators.
There is a need for further research into socioeconomic disparities in remote health services to address digital exclusion. Initiatives are underway to strengthen protection against discrimination based on age, with calls for including the protection of children in the Basic Law to send an important signal.
However, the conversation around the investigation into racist tendencies within the police is ongoing. Franke, head of the anti-discrimination office, finds the Federal Interior Minister's refusal to investigate without a clear reason concerning. Instances of discrimination against people of Asian appearance, Turkish or Arab origin, Roma and Sinti have been reported.
In response, Franke advocates for the inclusion of the protection of children in the Basic Law to strengthen protection against age-based discrimination and supports efforts to investigate racist tendencies within the police. The virus does not differentiate between ethnicities, according to Franke, and it is essential to address and eliminate discriminatory practices to ensure a fair and equitable society for all.
[1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347415265_Discrimination_in_Academia_Covid-19_and_the_Need_for_Reforms [2] https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/digital-health-and-mental-health [3] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347415265_Discrimination_in_Academia_Covid-19_and_the_Need_for_Reforms [4] https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/health-equity-in-the-covid-19-response [5] https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/digital-health-and-mental-health
The surge in discrimination cases in Germany, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, also extends to the realms of academia and health-and-wellness. For instance, studies are analyzing discriminatory tendencies in academia, urging reforms such as adopting an "academic age" that incorporates caregiving time and standardizing non-discriminatory review processes. Additionally, mental health disparities have been highlighted, with digital divides affecting access to telemental health services, particularly for older or socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, making health-and-wellness a crucial aspect of tackling discrimination.
