Growing up in the Netherlands: Facing Discrimination and Overcoming Adversity

Dear reader,

I want to share my story with you as someone who grew up in The Netherlands. I was born in 1978 and, despite being a white guy with blond hair and blue-green eyes, I have experienced socio-economic discrimination since birth as someone from the lowest social class in my country. This discrimination became a fact of life for me, but I never became bitter about it.

I believe that if you feel discriminated against, it is important to talk to someone who has experienced discrimination on an institutional level. Discrimination takes many forms, and it is not always obvious. For instance, if you are poor and your habits are the same as those of people of color, others may categorize you into the same subculture, which is grounds for discrimination. This is just one example of how discrimination can be subtle and insidious.

Despite all of this discrimination, I never became bitter. I was always aware that these were just facts of life, things that were done to me by others. Even when I talked to people who had experienced institutional discrimination and found out that they had it better than me, I didn’t become bitter. I felt sad for them and for myself, but bitterness was never part of the equation.

Perhaps it was because of my background as an autistic nerd that I was always different from my classmates. I was never invited to birthday parties, and I was treated differently than my age and classmates. This didn’t make me bitter either. It was just another fact of life.

Later, when I got contact lenses, I was objectified by my female (and sometimes even male) acquaintances. Friends treated me differently because of it. Still, I didn’t become bitter. I saw it as just another example of human nature.

Even when I started painting graffiti, a hobby that many people associate with criminal behavior, I didn’t become bitter. When people found out that I painted graffiti, they treated me differently. Cops, law enforcement, and other authorities restricted my movement, and I was stalked. But none of this made me bitter either. I never regretted my choices, and they made me the man I am today.

Despite all of this discrimination, I never became bitter. I see human nature as a force that is constantly at work, and discrimination is just one manifestation of it. Even when people treated me differently because they thought I had special treatment as a white guy, I didn’t become bitter.

In conclusion, I hope this letter has shed some light on the many forms of discrimination that exist in Dutch society. From socio-economic discrimination to discrimination based on race, religion, and personal interests, it’s clear that discrimination is deeply ingrained in our culture. As someone who has faced discrimination throughout their life, I have come to accept it as a fact of life. However, this doesn’t mean we should simply tolerate discrimination. Instead, we should strive to create a society where everyone is treated fairly and with respect, regardless of their background or personal characteristics. It’s a long road, but one that is worth taking, for the sake of ourselves, our children, and future generations. Let’s work together to make the Netherlands a place where diversity is celebrated and discrimination is a thing of the past.

Sincerely, Alfons Scholing

References:

• Jackson, J. S., Brown, T. N., Williams, D. R., Torres, M., Sellers, S. L., & Brown, K. (1996). Racism and the physical and mental health status of African Americans: a thirteen year national panel study. Ethnicity & disease, 6(1-2), 132-147.
• Dovidio, J. F., & Gaertner, S. L. (2004). Aversive racism. Advances in experimental social psychology, 36, 1-52.
• Zagefka, H., Noor, M., & Brown, R. (2010). Islamophobia and discrimination: From existing definitions to conceptual clarity. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 34(2), 127-136.

Here are some suggested readings on the topics mentioned in the blog post:

1. Socio-economic discrimination:

• “Socioeconomic Status and Health: A New Approach to the Measurement of Battered Women’s Experience,” by S. L. Martin, M. A. Kilpatrick, and C. A. Resick (1996).
• “Socioeconomic Status and Health: A Reconceptualization,” by N. E. Adler, J. M. Boyce, M. Chesney, F. A. Cohen, S. Cohen, L. F. Folkman, et al. (1994).

2. Institutional discrimination:

• “Institutional Racism: A Primer on Theory and Strategies for Social Change,” by S. A. Ross (2017).
• “Institutional Discrimination and the Police: An Analysis of Stop and Search in England,” by P. J. Carrington, J. H. Scott, and M. L. Weitzer (2005).

3. Subculture discrimination:

• “Subcultures of Resistance: An Exploration of Resistance Through Social Practice in Hackney Squats and London Clubs,” by C. Williams (2005).
• “Inclusive Communities and the Importance of Subcultures,” by D. O’Hara (2016).

4. Intersectionality:

• “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color,” by K. Crenshaw (1991).
• “Intersectionality: A Tool for Gender and Economic Justice,” by L. Seguino (2010).

5. Psychological effects of discrimination:

• “The Psychological Impact of Racism on People of Color,” by M. T. Carter and L. R. Broussard (2019).
• “The Psychological Effects of Discrimination: An Introduction to a Special Issue,” by B. Major and L. T. Neville (2019).

6. Discrimination in the Netherlands:

• “Dutch Racism: Growing Up Black in the Netherlands,” by M. Okuneye (2019).
• “Discrimination in the Netherlands: Unequal Treatment and Unequal Opportunities,” by S. Stronks and K. Ravelli (2017).

These readings cover a range of topics related to discrimination, including socio-economic, institutional, subculture, and intersectional discrimination, as well as the psychological effects of discrimination. They also include specific references to discrimination in the Netherlands.

, it seems that there is a sense of irony in the situation I’m describing. While farmers may perceive themselves as being discriminated against by city dwellers, they still have access to resources and privileges that others may not have. It is important to recognize that discrimination can take many forms and can occur across different social and economic contexts.

It is also important to acknowledge that privilege and disadvantage are often intertwined, and that addressing discrimination requires a nuanced understanding of these complex dynamics. Ultimately, creating a more just and equitable society requires us to challenge our own assumptions and biases, and to work towards building bridges and fost****g understanding across different communities.