Stereotyping and prejudice

 

Course Goal 2 – Sub-outcome 1: Define stereotyping, prejudice, bias and discrimination

Stereotypes - Mind your Language

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGv2Aq

 

Definitions

 

A stereotype is an exaggerated belief, image or distorted truth about a person or group — a generalization that allows for little or no individual differences or social variation. Stereotypes are based on images in mass media, or reputations passed on by parents, peers and other members of society. Stereotypes can be positive or negative.

A prejudice is an opinion, prejudgment or attitude about a group or its individual members. A prejudice can be positive, but in our usage refers to a negative attitude.
Prejudices are often accompanied by ignorance, fear or hatred. Prejudices are formed by a complex psychological process that begins with attachment to a close circle of acquaintances or an "in-group" such as a family. Prejudice is often aimed at "out-groups.

Discrimination is behavior that treats people unequally because of their group memberships. Discriminatory behavior, ranging from slights to hate crimes, often begins with negative stereotypes and prejudices.

How do we learn prejudice?
Social scientists believe children begin to acquire prejudices and stereotypes as toddlers. Many studies have shown that as early as age 3, children pick up terms of racial prejudice without really understanding their significance.

Soon, they begin to form attachments to their own group and develop negative attitudes about other racial or ethnic groups, or the "out-group". Early in life, most children acquire a full set of biases that can be observed in verbal slurs, ethnic jokes and acts of discrimination.

How are our biases reinforced?
Once learned, stereotypes and prejudices resist change, even when evidence fails to support them or points to the contrary.

People will embrace anecdotes that reinforce their biases, but disregard experience that contradicts them. The statement " I’m not prejudiced: some of my best friends are …….." captures this tendency to allow some exceptions without changing our bias.

How do we perpetuate bias?
Bias is perpetuated by conformity with in-group attitudes and socialization by the culture at large.

Mass media routinely take advantage of stereotypes as shorthand to paint a mood, scene or character. The elderly, for example, are routinely portrayed as being frail and forgetful, while younger people are often shown as vibrant and able.

Stereotypes can also be conveyed by omission in popular culture, as when TV shows present an all-white world. Psychologists theorize bias conveyed by the media helps to explain why children can adopt hidden prejudices even when their family environments explicitly oppose them.

Manifestations of Prejudice and Discrimination

(See Chapter 5 PowerPoint )

Ch.5 ppt.

ch5 summary.docx Handout to accompany PowerPointThe following are specific manifestations of prejudice and discrimination, all of which are based on stereotypes and/or negative attitudes toward members of a particular group. All forms of prejudice can be both personal (an individual act of meanness or exclusion) or institutional (prejudice and discrimination supported and sanctioned by power and authority that benefits some and disadvantages others).

Ableism

Ableism is prejudice and/or discrimination against people with mental and/or physical disabilities.

Ageism

Ageism is prejudice and/or discrimination against people because of their age.

Classism

Classism is prejudice and/or discrimination against people because of their real or perceived economic status.

Racism

Racism is prejudice and/or discrimination against people based on the social construction of "race." Differences in physical characteristics (e.g. skin color, hair texture, eye shape) are used to support a system of inequities.

Religious bigotry

Religious bigotry is prejudice and/or discrimination against people based on their religious beliefs and/or practices.

Sexism

Sexism is prejudice and/or discrimination based on gender.

Lyrics from which popular song?

“But if you only have love for your own race

Then you only leave space to discriminate

And to discriminate only generates hate

And when you hate,

then you’re bound to get irate, yeah..”

· If you like music, go to www.lyrics.com , listen to the rest of the song and study the rest of the lyrics.

· Can you recommend another song which deals with a similar subject?

· Do you think music can help to unite people?

Blue Eyes/ Brown Eyes video on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqp6GnYqIjQ

Prejudice - Group discussion activity