CH7 Discussion: Prejudice
COMM101 Discussion
CH7 Discussion Prejudice & Discrimination Point Value: 48
Discussion Goals: For a student to demonstrate awareness & understanding of Discrimination, Prejudice, and the various ‘Forms’ of Prejudice. Basic Tasks: Present & analyze examples of 2 different 'FORMS' of prejudice. The 1st example [Example1] should be of prejudice (and possible related discriminatory behavior) that you have been exposed to [personally observed, participated in, or were the target of]. The 2nd example [Example 2] should be of prejudice (and possible related discriminatory behavior) that one of your cultural informants has been exposed to. In your work, it should be made clear that you actually took time to hold a conversation with an ‘informant’ between the time you read these directions and the time you submit your initial post. If this is not clear this has occurred, the result will be -10 point deduction. NOTES: 1. The concept of ‘Prejudice’ and the 5 different 'FORMS' of prejudice are described in the course materials.
2. The examples you present/analyze should clearly point to prejudicial sentiment rather than simply revealing a stereotype.
In your post, include the highlighted headings provided below
DEFINTIONS:
Stereotype: (comprehensively explain the concept here, in your own words) [3 pts]
Prejudice: (comprehensively explain the concept here, in your own words) [3 pts]
Discrimination: (comprehensively explain the concept here, in your own words) [3 pts]
EXAMPLE 1 (My Experience):
1. Target of Prejudice: (Consider the prejudice that you were exposed to and simply label the identity of the person who was the target of the prejudicial sentiment here. No long descriptions necessary) [1 pt] Notes: Label the ‘target’ in a way that identifies the ‘group’ the victim of the prejudice can be seen to represent.
For example: If gender was at the root of the prejudice, you might label the ‘victim’ simply as Female, Male, Transgender, etc. If you see place of origin (ethnicity) as central to the prejudice, you might label the identity as Chinese or Californian. If lifestyle was at the root of the prejudice/ discrimination, you might label the identity as athlete, computer geek, etc. 2. The Situation: (Explain the circumstances/context of event here. What happened? Where did it happen? Who was involved?) [2 pts]
3. Applicable 'Form' of Prejudice: (Using ‘jargon’ of the text, simply identify the ‘FORM’ of prejudice [ex. ‘Conceit’] you believe is most applicable to the situation you described above) [1 pts]
4. Reasoning: (Explain why the ‘Form’ you selected above is applicable here. This means you should explain your understanding of the ‘Form’ you select and relate the form to the situation you described above) [3 pts] 5. (Potential) Rationalization: (Using the ‘jargon’ of the text simply identify ONE 'rationalization' [ex.Personally Afflicted’] the person who exhibited the prejudicial sentiment in the situation you described above had/may have had here) [1 pts] Notes: Though it’s possible that a person might rely on more than one rationalization of their prejudicial sentiment, present only ONE rationalization you feel is most applicable here. If you were not the person who exhibited the prejudice your post discusses, you'll need to make an educated guess regarding the likely 'rationalization'. Hall's 'rationalizations' of prejudice are explained in the text and in the ‘notes’ document in the CH7 ‘module’ on CANVAS. 6. Reasoning: Explain why the ‘Rationalization’ you selected is applicable here. This means you should explain your understanding of the ONE ‘Rationalization’ you select and relate it to the situation you described above) [3 pts] EXAMPLE 2: (Informant Experience): 1. Target of Prejudice: Same as above [1 pt] 2. The Situation: Same as above [2 pts] 3. Applicable 'Form’ of Prejudice: Same as above [1 pts] 4. Reasoning: Same as above [3 pts] 5. (Potential) Rationalization: Same as above [1 pts] 6. Reasoning: Same as above [3 pts]
OTHER REQUIREMENTS: 1. At the top of your post, embed an image in your post that relates to the content of your post. [2 pt]
2. Thoughtfully respond to at least 3 of your classmate’s posts. [15 pts] To earn full ‘response’ points: Pose at least one question that came to your mind regarding what the author of the post you are responding to has presented AND reveal your personal/cultural perspective. One way to do that would be to offer an explanation of what action you (or another person of your culture) would likely take if the prejudice(s) described the classmate you respond to described in their post.
(See Next Page to Review a Partial Example Post and Commentary)
Partial EXAMAPLE POST:
EXAMPLE 1
1.Target of Prejudice: The target of the prejudice in this example was my friend, a black man. 2. The Situation: I went to the gym with my friend, who was helping to train me to use the free weights properly. He’s been weightlifting for years and I’m just getting started, so I needed training on the correct form and method for lifting. We were working out for about fifteen minutes when I noticed a small group of white girls that seemed to be paying a lot of attention to my friend and I. He’s an attractive guy, so I thought they were just checking him out and thought nothing of it. However, when he walked away to refill his water, one of them approached me looking concerned. She asked if I was okay and needed help. Confused, I asked what she meant. She then continued that her friends had noticed my friend “bothering” me and thought he was a stranger who was harassing me and that I needed help getting him away from me. I was stunned. His behavior had been totally appropriate and friendly and we had been talking and laughing. I then realized they seemed to have a problem related to his race. 3. Form of Prejudice: Conceit 4. Reasoning: The ‘conceit’ form prejudice is rooted in a sense that the 'other' (person/’group member’) is socially or professionally inferior. In the situation described above, the girls seemed to have a sense that the behaviors of black people (and therefore my black friend) don’t uphold socially accepted standards of behavior and that my friend had been acting or would likely act inappropriately. 5. (Potential) Rationalization: Their Turf 6. Reasoning: The neighborhood my gym is in is close to where I went to high school, and that school has a very small black population. The girls in question may not have much exposure to back people and may have only been exposed to such people through portrayals in the media, leading them to hold racist beliefs that black men are dangerous and predatory. With that mindset, I can see where they would genuinely believe that I was in danger as a white woman and even though this is a racist and insulting belief, they lack the cultural exposure to know better.
* My Commentary on This Student’s Work Your choice of the ‘Their Turf’ rationalization and explanation of it is inaccurate. The 'their turf' rationalization is rooted in a fear of entering environments dominated by the ‘other’.
When this rationalization is relied upon, prejudice can be revealed in the propensity of a person to avoid entering environments dominated by those seen as the 'other'. When entering such an environment is required/unavoidable, dealing with the 'other' is done in a terse manner and (as briefly as possible, with communication focused exclusively on the 'task' one needs to accomplish). If the writer had explained a different type of situation, one in which the ‘white girls’ had to enter an environment dominated by the ‘other’ (in this case black people), the Their Turf rationalization could be possible if a prejudicial attitude was exhibited.