Do your prejudices cause harm? A social experiment in Castellón tests stereotypes about healthcare and diversity

-Seniors, migrants and young medical students reflect on the impact of stereotypes on the fulfilment of the right to health in a new social experiment by La Ventanilla Indiscreta

-More than a hundred people are participating in this new social experiment in Castelló, promoted jointly by the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Universitat Jaume I, Castelló City Council and the CEA Avenida de la Mar

LA VENTANILLA INDISCRETA | Full video of the social experiment carried out in Castellón

How do stereotypes influence the way we relate to each other, especially in something as essential as health? How can prejudice damage people’s dignity, confidence and even their physical and emotional well-being? These are the questions that guided the social experiment carried out in Castelló as part of the La Ventanilla Indiscreta project.

The experiment was designed as a listening game: two people, separated by a panel and unable to see each other, talked about their experiences and perceptions of the healthcare system. With only their voices and experiences as clues, they were asked to try to guess the profile of the person on the other side, thus confronting their own preconceptions. The objective: to create a space for critical reflection on stereotypes linked to age and migrant origin, and how these condition equality in access to healthcare.

The experiment was carried out in collaboration with 4th-year medical students from the Universitat Jaume I (UJI), who facilitated the experience as part of their training in medical ethics and deontology. In addition, we had the support of the Senior Citizens’ Unit of Castelló City Council and the CEA Avenida de la Mar, involving older people and people of migrant origin in an intergenerational and diverse experience.

As part of the complementary activities, we have held seminars for these medical students, who have replicated them with groups of older people, addressing key issues for their well-being: mental health, ageing and physical health. These spaces for dialogue have allowed them to share concerns and learnings, linking them directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the importance of inclusive and equitable healthcare.

Castellón faces the challenge of equality in health

Castellón is a city marked by its diversity and strong community fabric. Intercultural coexistence and an ageing population pose challenges in areas such as healthcare, unwanted loneliness and the fight against discrimination. In this context, the social experiment La Ventanilla Indiscreta (The Indiscreet Window) opened up a courageous space for collective reflection, bringing to the table how prejudices—often invisible—can have a real impact on people’s lives, especially older people and migrants.

La Ventanilla Indiscreta is a project promoted by Jovesólides with the aim of stimulating social awareness and encouraging active citizenship in Valencia through the Sustainable Development Goals. Its social experiments address issues such as migration, gender equality, Islamophobia, responsible consumption, decent work, cultural diversity and, in this case, the universal right to health.

The project is funded by the First Vice-Presidency and Regional Ministry of Social Services, Equality and Housing of the Valencian Regional Government.

You can follow all the latest news about the project with the hashtag #LaVentanillaIndiscreta on social media.