Analyses of Kamala Harris’s defeat often lack depth and fail to address the broader societal undercurrents at play. Her loss was primarily driven by the dual challenges of being a woman and a person of color—two identities that amplified the hurdles she faced. It’s worth recalling that Hillary Clinton encountered a similar obstacle during her 2016 presidential campaign.
Discrimination remains an unresolved and pressing issue—arguably humanity’s greatest existential threat. It surpasses even climate change and nuclear weapons in its impact, as discriminatory practices are the root cause of these global crises.
A few days ago, Politico published an article titled “No Sex, No Dating, No Babies, No Marriage: How the 4B Movement Could Change America,” which explores a radical feminist campaign that began in South Korea in the late 2010s. The movement emerged in response to growing gender inequality and violence against women in South Korea, a country with one of the largest gender pay gaps in the world and a troubling rise in the brutal murders of women. The movement has since gained momentum in the United States, particularly in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s presidency, underscoring the persistence of systemic issues worldwide.
In an interview with the BBC, Malala Yousafzai remarked, *”I never imagined women’s rights would be lost so easily.” Her voice amplifies the struggles of Afghan women, whose freedoms have been systematically dismantled since the Taliban’s return to power. In just a few years, restrictions have escalated to such extremes that even singing is now banned for women.
Similarly, a recent report in Brazil highlights that “violence against women is a phenomenon that affects women of all social classes, races, and ages.” According to the Public Security Yearbook (FBSP, 2023), domestic violence threats against women have increased in Brazil by 7.2%, cases of physical aggression linked to domestic violence by 2.9%, and emergency protective orders by 13.7%.
Historically, women have often been relegated to subordinate roles, treated as property or objects of control—whether by society, family, or intimate partners. This legacy persists today. In the United States, for example, access to reproductive healthcare has faced increasing legal and political rollbacks, particularly following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn *Roe v. Wade*.
However, discrimination is not confined to gender. It permeates nearly every facet of society, underpinning conflicts, political exploitation, and systemic inequities in immigration, economics, healthcare, and education. Consider these examples:
Slavery and colonialism were driven by discriminatory ideologies.
World War II was fueled by fueled by supremacist beliefs.
Donald Trump’s political success is built upon discrimination, and millions resonate with it.
The Israel/Palestine conflict is deeply entrenched in mutual discrimination that stretches back millennia.
The migration crisis is fundamentally a manifestation of discrimination.
The Catholic Church’s refusal to ordain women priests is based on discrimination.
Even the logic of capitalism arguably thrives on systemic discrimination.
Reconciliation is impossible without first understanding the pervasive nature of discrimination. And without reconciliation, there can be no Universal Human Nation. Humanity’s future hinges on our ability to transcend this primitive concept.
To do so, we must develop a deep collective awareness of discrimination and commit to dismantling it in all its forms. Applying the Golden Rule—”treat others the way you want to be treated”—is a fundamental starting point. This universal principle, present in nearly every religion and culture, calls on us to act with kindness and respect toward others. By embracing this ethic, we can begin to tear down the structures of discrimination and build a more inclusive and compassionate world.
