Sociology Learners

Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination

People are liable for categorizing other individuals across the globe. This is the process, which is present in all societies. There are several common bases on which such categorization involve. Race, gender and age are major criteria for division. Significantly, it is necessary to classify individuals as white, black, Asian, European, Latinos, female, male, adult, child etc. right after seeing the person. Possibility exist related to the process for great amount of data related to momentary encounters. People take time to recognize the way of treating a person as unique individual, yet little time is required for identifying the stranger as the exponent of any category. In addition to this: researcher insist on the fact that individuals never follow the tips and regularly categorize them. There are ways which are used by people for identifying other individuals and also the causes which prompt individuals for doing it. Consequently, noticing stereotypes leads to different social phenomena which have impact on society and separate individuals from that society (lumen, 2018).

The common definition of Stereotypes is- people who characterize other members of the same group which he/she belongs to in typical features. The stereotype is considered as oversimplified lists of values and beliefs, about groups or social stratums, they are associated with. The strict perception of the characteristics help people for characterizing other people in manner of attributing them for specific groups. Stereotypes sometime incorrectly describe some members of social groups. The characterization of stereotypes are mostly based on salience principle. It states some events which are obvious and initially appear as prominent. Thus, individuals are salient related to those events. For example, skin complexion is salient and obvious characteristics. The skin tone is very first thing noticed by people, which is why, it becomes a basis for the stereotyping. In some places, salient characteristic is determined through culture. Lips, nose, shape, size, body structure, skin color or hair texture are the salient characteristics (Sociology, 2017).

Prejudice is an attitude or behavior towards individuals who are being discriminated. It basically means what exactly individual think about adherent of any similar social group. It refers to thoughts, beliefs, attitudes and feelings someone holds against anyone or with group. It does not depend on experiences, instead, depends on prejudgment, developing outside the real experience. A documentary of 1970 called “Eye of the Storm” focuses on the ways of developing prejudice by presenting one category of individuals’ superiority, outcomes in the prejudice against others, who are not privileged by that category (lumen, 2018).

Discrimination is irregular and negative attitude of a person towards any member of same group due to the fact of members in definite stratum or group. People perceive discrimination as an action and consider it as an act towards deprived people. Two forms of discrimination exist. Income and housing discrimination. The major difference among them is subordination of law. Discrimination reflects to behavior, and prejudice reflects to attitudes. Discrimination on the basis of ethnicity or race can take several forms, from biased hiring to unfair housing activities. Overt discriminations is seen in many countries, and several cultures. In late 19th century, it was common for owners and entrepreneurs for holding the boards of “No Irish, No Black, No Muslim, etc.” However, discrimination could not be erase from culture only by enacting and announcing laws and legal action for abolishing it. Not even magic pill could completely eliminate it from human minds, and cultures across the globe (Sociology, 2017).

Racial, religious, political or any other prejudice makes the ground for the international misunderstandings. Bias, stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice have an illusory correlation with the truth or reality. Therefore, they lead individual to racial wars, and misunderstanding. Hence, it is necessary to aware about preventive measures and avoiding techniques for such creations. In general, it is running our society, people are getting judgmental, and materialistic. They do not want to talk to people who does not belong to their groups, social societies, or culture. UK is still one of the best example of having discriminated societies and people, who do not want to interact or associate with black, Muslims, Latinos, etc. (Enteman, 2003).

References

Enteman, W.F., 2003. Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. Images that injure: Pictorial stereotypes in the media, pp.23-27.
Luman, 2018. Stereotype, prejudice and discrimination. [Online], Available at:  https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/stereotypes-prejudice-and-discrimination/, [Accessed on: 27th April, 2018].
Sociology, 2017. Stereotype, Prejudice, and discrimination. [Online], Available at: https://essays-writer.net/essays/sociology/stereotype-prejudice-and-discrimination.html, [Accessed on: 27th April, 2018].

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