Research Paper

Prejudice and Discrimination

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

STEREOTYPES AND PREJUDICE---------------------------------------------------- 2

TYPES OF PREJUDICE ------------------------------------------------------------ 4

DESCRIMINATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4

RACISM -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

SEXISM ------------------------------------------------------------ 4

AGEISM ---------------------------------------------------5

HOMOPHOBIA -----------------------------------------5

CONCLUSION ---------------------------------- 5

Introduction

Prejudice and discrimination have been widely known to affect societal lives from socialization, access to resources and even their integrity. People’s notions to inequality and equality are the main drivers that enhance discrimination. Resultantly, the maintenance and implementation of human rights policies heavily banks on their understanding of how prejudice heavily affects their lives.

Structural inequalities have led to the development of various categorizations in the society such as ethnicity, socioeconomic and social class. These social categorizations have led to the development of various policies that help safeguard their best interest that in this case is equality. Policies in the provision of services and legislation have especially helped in redressing such inequalities. However, despite measures being put in place, implementation takes time rendering more time for prejudice and discrimination to occur more hastily.

Stereotypes and Prejudice

Mainly historical accounts, Lippmann introduced the term ‘stereotype’ to refer to the typical image that comes into mind when thinking about a particular social group (Abrams, 2010). Researched revealed that stereotyping is defined as one’s perception of others. Stereotypes not only show beliefs about the behavior characterizing typical group members but also have information about other merits such as social roles, the degree to which members of the group share specific qualities (for example within-group homogeneity or variability), and effect emotional reactions to group members (Dovidio. F.J, 2010).

Stereotypes have been renowned to imply that suggestions of what is expected from individuals in a new environment. They equally reveal people’s beliefs of others from a social context. In general, stereotypes exhibit behaviors and traits that are considered consistent to be in line with the stereotypes. Psychologists clearly state that during socialization, perception about stereotypes characteristics are attended more quickly in a social context. For instance, because cultural stereo- types connect Black people with cruel crime in the United States, White people are faster to recognize objects associated with a crime, for example, gun when primed with a Black person than a White person (Dovidio. F.J, 2010).

Socioeconomic status has largely contributed to prejudice. This is mainly because individuals in the lower social class are considered as incompetent to carry out any tasks. Due to this notion, individuals that are less privileged are denied opportunities leading to most of them conforming to living a life of lavishing in poverty.

Discrimination greatly affects their self-esteem leading to most of them lacking integrity and thus ending up desperate. This desperation culminates in them indulging in activities that predispose them to risk. Women engage in prostitution just to make ends meet while the gents may be vagrants taking part in the petty crime or be part of a gang. For example in the United States, the rate of crime has generally increased especially in black neighborhoods. Critical analysis of these trends reveals that due to the stereotype those blacks are considered to be violent; most individuals especially the youth have adopted this mantra. This mainly rose from the slave era of the blacks. At the time, blacks were to only work in farms as slaves while the white man led a luxurious life as their master. Not until 2008, was there a black president in the United States. Barack Obama’s win in the elections was a game changer in the political field that was greatly dominated by Americans.

The Stereotype Content Model proposes two fundamental dimensions of stereotypes: warmth (associated with ‘cooperative’ groups and denied to ‘competitive’ groups) and competence (associated with high-status groups and denied to low-status groups) (Dovidio. F.J, 2010). Stereotyping has led to many groups conforming to generally perception about them as a means of survival, for example warm and competent groups(e.g., the in-group, close allies) elicit pride and admiration; stereotypically warm but incompetent groups (example housewives, the elderly) produce pity and sympathy; stereotypically cold but competent groups (example Asians, Jews) elicit envy and jealousy; and stereotypically cold and incompetent groups (for example welfare recipients, poor people) generate disgust, anger, and resentment.

Types of prejudice

Discrimination

Whenever, we meet with people especially strangers we tend to form opinions pertaining to their dress codes within the first five minutes of contact. The perception mainly lies around their gender, race and age. Despite secondary information providing information pertaining to an individual, the information is categorized pertaining to stereotypical knowledge.

Racism

Racism is discrimination and prejudice against an individual based solely on one’s membership in a specific racial group (such as toward Asian Americans, European Americans Latinos, Native Americans, African Americans). What are some stereotypes of various racial or ethnic groups? (J. B, 2010).

Sexism

Sexism is discrimination and prejudice toward individuals based on their sex (Abrams, 2010). Matters pertain to sexism have led to heated debates especially pertaining to gender equality. This was mainly a point of concern when women raised up in arms to fight against them being ostracized from various social activities such as politics, education just to mention but a few. The girl child went through an array of difficulties especially in the African culture whereby they did not have a voice to make a sound judgement. However, amidst this struggle, policies have been developed to mitigate the negative effects of sexism.

Ageism

People often form judgments and hold expectations about people based on their age (J, 2010). Ageism has especially affected the workforce industry with many old people being laid as their health insurance rates being greatly increased. This is mostly attributed to the perception that they are frail and slow in the workforce hence rendering not as effective as the young adults. The insurance rates are increased owing to their susceptibility to maladies owing to the frail bodies and they are relatively weak immune systems. However, ageism also affects the young generation, especially in the political and managerial context. The youth are considered to be reckless and lack the experience in making an important decision that affect people’s lives.

Homophobia

Another form of prejudice is homophobia Discrimination and prejudice of individuals based solely on their sexual orientation (J, 2010). Matters pertaining to homosexuals have been very controversial in the modern society. This is especially brought about at a time when democracy is considered as the epitome of leadership. Homosexuals have moved forth to seek equality in representation in legal matters for example pertains to marriage and leadership in the government. This has been faced with immense critic from various grounds such as the religion and societal norms.

Conclusion

Prejudice and discrimination has led to the development of various social inequalities. It is the adverse effect that has led to global atrocities such as religious wars. Owing to its broad nature, it can be mitigated by it being categorized and each aspect being attended to individually.

References

Abrams, D. (2010). Processes of prejudice. In D. Abrams, Theory, evidence and intervention (pp. 20-55). Oxford Press.

Abrams, D. (2010). Theory, evidence and intervention. Processes of prejudice:, 20-55.

Dovidio. F.J, H. G. (2010, October 25). Prejudice, . Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination: Theoretical and Empirical Overview. Seattle, Washington D.C, United States: Oxford Press.

J, B. R. (2010). Prejudice, stereotyping and descrimination. In ADVANCED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (pp. 341-369). London: Oxford University Press.

J. B, R. (2010). Prejudice, steretyping and descrimination. In B. R. J, ADVANCED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (pp. 341-369). London: Oxford University Press.