Question

In each of the following situations, identify the minority. Write one reason why you think it is important to report the views of the minority in each of these situations.

1. In a school with 30 teachers, 20 of them are male.
    
2. In a city, 5 percent of the population is Buddhists.
    
3. In a factory mess for all employees, 80 percent are vegetarians.
    
4. In a class of 50 students, 40 belong to more well-off families.

Answer 1

1. In a school with 30 teachers, 20 of them are male.
   
    In this case, the female teachers are in minority. Views of female teachers should be given due importance in order to prevent male dominance and patriarchy in the school.
2. In a city, 5 percent of the population is Buddhists.
   
   Answer: In this case, the Buddhists are in minority. The minority community is at risk of being exposed to majority tyranny. They may be forced to alter their eating habit, or to stop practising their religious beliefs.
3. In a factory mess for all employees, 80 percent are vegetarians.
   
   Answer: In this case, the non-vegetarians are in minority. They may be forced to eat vegetarian food on all days of the month. They may not get a food of their choice in the mess.
4. In a class of 50 students, 40 belong to more well-off families.
   
   Answer: In this case, students from poor families are in minority. They may suffer from inferiority complex and may be subject of rebuke by the students from affluent families.