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Content Summary
Stereotypes, Prejudice & Discrimination
In today’s world we are all too familiar with how we treat one another. How we treat one
another often lets us determine a lot about ourselves, and other people. Most people naturally
tend to like people who treat others with kindness, it makes them happy and feel good. I am sure
we all have one specific person who we can think of that we know as “the sweetest person on
earth” and this can be a friend, family member or even a coworker. But, what about others who
don’t treat others as nicely? Well with kindness also comes along those who are unkind and seem
more abrupt. Like kindness, people being unkind can also take place in any setting in life and can
be shown by any person that we might or might not know. A few popular acts of being unkind
can be acts of racism, stereotyping people, and sexism towards others. The topics being
discussed within this content summary will focus on racism, stereotypes, and sexism.
Everyone in this day of age is more than likely familiar with the term racism. The
definition for racism is prejudice and discrimination based on a person’s racial background, or
institutional and cultural practices that promote the domination of one racial group over another
(Kassin et al, 2021). Racism is probably one of the biggest forms of discrimination that can be
done to anyone by anyone. Most forms of racism are often thought of in the workplace and a
discrimination tactic used by coworkers to put other employees down. While this is true racism
can be used by family members, strangers, and even friends. In fact racism does not have to be
outright, it can be done unconsciously and in subtle ways (Kassin et al, 2021).
Modern Racism is a term used that allows people to use racism in a subtle way that almost
seems socially acceptable.
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This makes what is being said not harsh and maybe even funny to some individuals.
Implicit racism is another term that is used when an individual uses racist comment
unconsciously and perhaps even unintentionally (Kassin et al, 2021).
Along with racism comes stereotyping which is also just as harsh and prejudiced as
racism. Stereotyping by definition is a belief or association that links a whole group of people
with certain traits or characteristics ( Kassin et al, 2021). Stereotyping can also be seen anywhere
and can happen to anyone. As an example many people can stereotype that just because someone
is pretty it must mean that they aren’t smart. Well, you can't be pretty and smart, right? The
simple answer is wrong! You absolutely can be pretty and smart, that is just a prejudice
stereotype. Another example of this is that boys like blue and that girls like pink. Are boys and
girls limited to these colors? The answer is also no, people have just created this stereotype for
boys and girls (Kassin et al, 2021).
Sexism is another strong form of discrimination that people can show. In fact racism and
sexism are the main dominant studies within social psychology (Kassin et al, 2021). Sexism is
mostly seen towards women, especially within the workplace. Ambivalent Sexism is a term used
to describe how sexism is seen between both genders. By definition ambivalent sexism is made
up of two things; the first being a hostile sexism is made up of negative and resentful feelings
about women’s ability to challenge, and value mens power. The second is that women should
always be protected by men (Kassin et al, 2021). In today’s world many women make up the
labor force, just like men do.
In conclusion prejudice acts such as racism, stereotyping and sexism still exist everyday.
In result they can affect the way one thinks and affect their self esteem.
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As learned within the article written by Bashir. N we learn that these negative acts can
affect our social identity. Our social identity plays an important role in many individual and
social phenomena, including health and well-being, educational achievement and collective
action and social change (Chadee, p.273). Our self esteem makes up a lot of one’s mental health
and unfortunately can be tarnished by prejudiced acts from others. It is important to always
remember who you are and how you perceive yourself, not how others perceive you.
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References
Bashir, N., Lockwood, P., Chasteen, A. L., Nadolny, D., & Noyes, I. (2013). The
ironic impact of activists: Negative stereotypes reduce social change influence. European
Journal of Social Psychology, 43(7), 614–626. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.1983
Chadee, D. (2011). Theories in Social Psychology. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Kassin, S., Fein, S., & Markus, H.R. (2021). Social Psychology (11 th ed.)
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