By Dou in Venting —

Discrimination Happens Everywhere: What Support Do States and Societies Really Offer?

Do I have the energy to go through that process? Will it really change anything?

Discrimination happens everywhere and all the time — but that doesn’t mean we need to normalise it. It’s one thing to know how often it occurs, in which forms, and in which contexts. It’s another to notice how people react when the affected person speaks up.

Can I go to the police and report it? Will they take me seriously? Are there initiatives that really listen? Will the justice system be on my side? Will such a complaint affect my future — professionally, socially, or in terms of residence status? Do I have the energy to go through that process? Will it really change anything?

These are the questions I — and, I assume, many immigrants — ask before taking action.

When I first arrived in Berlin, my impression of Germany was quite positive regarding such issues. For instance, the General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG) aims to prevent discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual identity. It provides legal protection both in employment and daily life situations. Many cafés and bars still display “Refugees Welcome” signs, which continue to create a sense of openness and solidarity in public spaces. Websites like Handbook Germany and Together in Germany offer newcomers guidance and advice on dealing with discrimination (Discrimination page). Many institutions have special email addresses for reporting discrimination, reflecting an ongoing commitment to fairness. Finally, most middle-class Germans are careful about their choice of words, showing attentiveness to how they phrase questions about someone’s background or identity — a reflection of awareness around inclusivity and respect.*

However, that positive impression changed over time — especially after moving from being a guest researcher at a reputable research centre to being unemployed with limited German skills. Interacting with institutions like the Arbeitsagentur, Volkshochschule, and potential employers revealed a different reality.
This shift was somewhat expected: a fall in social class often changes how people are treated. Those perceived as lower class rarely receive the same kindness.
What surprised me was how unhelpful official anti-discrimination structures could be. Discrimination offices, institutional contact points, even NGOs — all often replied in formal, distant tones. Some ignored parts of messages and sent links or new emails. Responsibility was politely passed along, but there was no real involvement.
I plan to share some of these exchanges soon — not to complain, but to show how exhausting and often fruitless this process can be.

Here are two true stories around these issues: German Coursebooks and The Job Interview

Some might argue social workers are underpaid and expecting more engagement is unfair. I’m not asking for miracles — just clear communication about their expertise and intentions. While I sympathise with staff facing tough conditions, their concerns should be directed to their employers, unions, or works councils, not the people seeking help.

Discrimination happens everywhere. But when even the mechanisms designed to address it reproduce indifference, we have a deeper problem. Knowing this is not resignation (yet) — it’s a commitment to demand better.
I would be happy to hear your experiences if you contact one of these institutions or organisations.

By the way, I recently came across a survey on discrimination in Germany run by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency. It collects experiences to better understand how discrimination happens and how it is dealt with. If you want to do the survey, you can find it here: https://diskriminierung-umfrage.de.

*: It is important to note that I have only tested some of these avenues, so my judgment is limited and not conclusive about their effectiveness. However, where I come from, such mechanisms rarely exist, and if they do, they often fail or serve to protect privileged groups rather than those facing discrimination. Even in France where I live for 2.5 years, these structures were less visible compared to Germany.[1]

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