Identifying Prejudice and Discrimination

Questions:

As our society becomes more diverse, does stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination and racism increase or decrease?

What forms of racism, discrimination and prejudice have occurred in world history? Why?

Splitting hairs: Defining words

In your tables, define and give an example of each of the following:

- RACISM- DISCRIMINATION- PREJUDICE- STEREOTYPE- GENOCIDE

Definitions Racism: Negative behaviour based on an incorrect assumption that

one race is inherently superior to others

Discrimination: Unfair actions directed against people based on their race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, language, faith or sexual orientation

Prejudice: A set of opinions, attitudes and feelings that unfairly case a group and its members in a negative light without legitimate reasons

Stereotypes: false or generalized beliefs about a group of people that result in categorizing members without regard for individual difference

Genocide: The most extreme form of systemic discrimination, by which deliberate attempts are made by authorities at mass murder of any national, ethnic, racial, or religious group

Other Important Definitions Anti-Semitism: particular form of individual or systemic

discrimination directed against Jews

Systemic Discrimination: describes a system that favours one or some groups over others in terms of hiring, benefits, promotions, and pay increases

Systemic Racism: Discrimination based on a sense of racial superiority is part of the philosophy and practices of a company, institution, or a whole society

Systemic Sexism: Discrimination based on a sense of male superiority is part of the philosophy and practices of a company, institution, or a whole society

Case Study 1 1948- social scientist S. Wax

conducted an experiment to showcase discrimination in Canada

Experiment: Respond to 100 ads for summer lodgings in Ontario and requested room reservations for the same dates under two different names: “Mr. Greenberg” and “Mr. Lockwood”

Results Conclusions?

Same experiment conducted using names “Mr. Smith” and Mr. Little Bear”

Results Conclusions?

Case Study 2 Texan named Howard Griffin

conducted an unusual experiment to experience prejudice in 1960

Used dark pigment and tanning lamps to temporarily change his skin to a dark colour

Arranged with a African American magazine to publish a series of stories about his day to day encounters as a black man travelling across the southern US in search of work

Results Reaction Effects

Case Study 3 2001, Moncton NB 18 year old male arrested after a

metre high cross found burning on the front lawn of a black family

Where does freedom of expression and speech end and freedom from discrimination begin?

Potential charges:-property mischief-vandalism-hate crime

Map of Prejudice

Kenneth E. Boulding In 1956, he published The Image:

Knowledge in Life and Society The book outlined a view of perception

where he stated we are shaped and changed by the personal background and experiences of individuals.

He used “the image” to describe how people do not perceive things exactly as they exist in the real world

He believed instead they responded to an image of reality and this image differs from person to person

How can his views be related to the subject of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination?

The Paradigm

In 1989, American Psychologist Joel Barker worked on the concept of paradigm

This was what he called the set of rules and conditions stored in the brain that a person uses to interpret and understand sensory experience

A paradigm acts like a filter through which information is processed

Eg. The approach of a stranger can be seen by one person as a possible threat, while someone else may see it as just another passerby – Why is this the case?

Think about: Is prejudice learned or is it innate? What causes hate? Can prejudice become unlearned?

Movie: American History X