prejudices opinion essay

In the modern world, there is a direct link between prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice is defined as the unjustified negative attitudes that some people hold against others of a certain group of people. Prejudice can include attitudes such as sexism, racism, homophobia, and religious persecution. Prejudices are pre-formed and have no reasonable basis. Discrimination includes all of the actions that people take against others they have prejudices toward. The segregation of blacks and whites during the American Civil Rights Movement is an example of discrimination. A modern example of discrimination might occur if a male employer were to pay a female employee lower wages due to his own sexism. However, discrimination can also consist of more subtle, passive-aggressive behavior, such as dirty looks, or refusing to patronize a business because the owners or managers are of a certain race, gender, or religion.There is a self-fulfilling prophecy involved with prejudice and discrimination as well. Those who have been discriminated against begin to expect those around them to be prejudiced. This leads to defensive behavior, further fueling the tension between the in-group and the out-group. Furthermore, members of the in-group then feel justified in their beliefs, because those in the out-group are acting accordingly with the in-group’s preconceived impressions.Discrimination and its self-fulfilling prophecy play a major role in the maintenance of prejudice and inequality. First, it causes society to play the “blame game. The victims of discrimination blame those who act in discriminatory ways. In turn, those with prejudice blame the out-group for putting themselves into their own predicament, and harbor resentment against them for pointing fingers. Most often, neither group is willing to cooperate or see from the other’s perspective, and the reality of the situation is.
Prejudice is an attitude concerning the way people think about others. It comes from the Latin 'pre-judicare', or to pre-judge people. It means to hold an opinion about someone without having any evidence to justify it. Very often, there is evidence that a person's prejudice is wrong, but they ignore it. We often find prejudice and discrimination go hand in hand. People can become prejudiced for many reasons. Which include the influence of parents, because young children accept everything their parents say, including their prejudices. These prejudices are very often difficult to break down later in life. Prejudice often comes from ignorance. Someone can be prejudiced against, say, the Irish, because they know very little about them. Prejudice also comes from fear. Because someone is different in their language, behaviour, or customs, people are afraid of them. Prejudice also comes from pride, because people think that the groups they belong to are superior to others. Therefore, they will be prejudiced against these because they must be inferior. Discrimination is the acting out of prejudices, when people are treated unfairly because of a prejudice held against them. Racial discrimination has been illegal in Britain since the 1976 Race Relations Act was passed. Racial prejudice is not illegal, because it is impossible to legislate against an attitude or thoughts. There are many groups in society who are discriminated against, among these are: Discrimination against these groups manifests itself in many different ways: This is obvious and deliberate prejudice where a person or persons from one of the above-mentioned groups are denied access or opportunities, where others out-with this group would not. For example: -Suffering sexual harassment (from either male/female). -Being refused a job because of race, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation (or.
Prejudice: A Worldwide Problem Length: 1432 words (4.1 double-spaced pages) Rating: Red (FREE)   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Prejudice: A Worldwide Problem      There is a dangerous and often deadly problem in the world today. It reaches beyond political and religious boundaries and spans across all economic and social statuses. It affects the homeless, middleclass, and the richest people in society. The problem is prejudice.      In America, when we think of prejudice we often think of it in terms of Black and White. However, prejudice is much more than that. It is a broad term that can encompass things like racism, sexism, and religious persecution. The Encarta World English Dictionary defines prejudice as a preformed opinion, usually an unfavorable one, based on insufficient knowledge, irrational feelings, or inaccurate stereotypes and the holding of opinions that are formed beforehand on the basis of insufficient knowledge. When I read those definitions, I have to wonder why prejudice still exists today. If it really is based on insufficient knowledge , then it seems to me that there is no logical reason why prejudice is still so prevalent. Throughout our entire lives we are exposed to issues dealing with prejudice. In school we study history, geography, government, and psychology, and at some point in each of those subjects, the issue of prejudice is more than likely discussed. In the corporate world we attend countless classes and seminars on discrimination, and sensitivity training on issues that could be deemed prejudicial. The issues are well known and a vast amount of information is available on the subject, so how can insufficient knowledge and preformed opinions still be a factor? I believe it is because when we discuss prejudice or any other similar issue, we tend to discuss it at a societal level as opposed to a.
On Prejudice Prejudice, in its ordinary and literal sense, is prejudging any question without having sufficiently examined it, and adhering to our opinion upon it through ignorance, malice, or perversity, in spite of every evidence to the contrary. The little that we know has a strong alloy of misgivings and uncertainty in it; the mass of things of which we have no means of judging, but of which we form a blind and confident opinion, as if we were thoroughly acquainted with them, is monstrous. Prejudice is the child of ignorance: for as our actual knowledge falls short of our desire to know, or curiosity and interest in the world about us, so must we be tempted to decide upon a greater number of things at a venture; and having no check from reason or inquiry, we shall grow more obstinate and bigoted in our conclusions, according as we have been rash and presumptuous. The absence of proof, instead of suspending our judgment, only gives us an opportunity of making things out according to our wishes and fancies; mere ignorance is a blank canvas, on which we lay what colours we please, and paint objects black or white, as angels or devils, magnify or diminish them at our option; and in the vacuum either of facts or arguments, the weight of prejudice and passion falls with double force, and bears down everything before it. If we enlarge the circle of our previous knowledge ever so little, we may meet with something to create doubt and difficulty; but as long as we remain confined to the cell of our native ignorance, while we know nothing beyond the routine of sense and custom, we shall refer everything to that standard, or make it out as we would have it to be, like spoiled children who have never been from home, and expect to find nothing in the world that does not accord with their wishes and notions. It is evident that the fewer things we know, the more ready we shall.