Chapter 5 Justice and Prejudice I Real Life Prejudice A. Prejudice 1. from Latin – prejudgment based on insufficient information 2. can be favorable or unfavorable ‘3. not based on actual fact 4. involves feelings 5. Positive a. judging another because of a family member b. need to be careful 6. Negative a. hate something you never tried b. inflexible and negatively judgmental about people

B. Negative Prejudice 1. infects people like a virus 2. result of original sin 3. by itself is sinful 4. violates the virtue of justice 5. 3 conditions that make it wrong a. prejudice is wrong when it threatens the rights of people or denies them their just due b. when it is illogical or stereotypical 1) stereotype – oversimplified generalizations about some aspect of reality 2) example – blonds, jocks, nerds, etc. c. when it resists new information

6. example of a negative prejudice a. a person with a homosexual orientation often stereotyped in a degrading way b. often the object of scorn, hatred, discrimination c. ignorance is probably the most predominant factor d. science – no one chooses to have a homosexual orientation – nature or nurture? e. the orientation is not sinful f. the activity is because it is contrary to God’s intention for male – female bonding g. every human being deserves respect as a child of God h. the fundamental rights of homosexual persons must be defended i. bigots are truly prejudiced people who out of pride and stubbornness hold on to their beliefs contrary to the evidence

II. Stages of Prejudice A. Antilocution 1. means speaking against 2. ethnic jokes often considered a mild form 3. jokes can be vicious, cruel, degrading to the group 4.examples – calling someone a fag or a dyke,wop 5. it can be mild but always demeaning and un- Christian 6. root it out of our language and vocabulary and challenge our friends who use it B. Avoidance 1. go to extremes to avoid people they dislike 2. makes others feel hurt and humiliated 3. often leads to worse – like bullying

C. Discrimination 1. harmful actions against disliked persons or groups 2. denies them their fundamental human rights a. denying jobs- race, sex, ethnicity, religion, age b. excluding from neighborhoods c. restricting educational and recreational activities d. excluding from churches and other social groups e. segregation in schools, hotels, trains, buses, restaurants

3. sexism a. one sex is superior to the other b. historically men over women c. feminism has been able to challenge patriarchy d. examples 1) women not treated as well as men 2) much higher incidence of poverty among households headed by women –“feminization of poverty” 3) glass ceiling effect - - being able to advance only so far 4) wages – 75% of men’s wages 5) in some countries – exclusion from the political process 6) in some countries – condemned to most menial labor 7) assaults, beatings, rape

4. ageism a. discrimination against the elderly b. forced to early retirement due to downsizing c. more elderly people will be living in poverty d. poverty rate among elderly – 10.5 % - even more among elderly women e. stability of Social Security and Medicare? f.Legalize euthanasia? Unproductive and burdensome g. Each person has dignity as child of God h. Older people can be a treasure for society i. They deserve a decent home, job, health care

D. Physical Attack 1. hate crimes 2. desecrating graveyards, swastikas on synagogues, spitting on people, vandalism 3. forcible ejection from nighborhoods, gang violence 4. gay bashing 5. rape and sexual assault against women 6. we have right to be free from violence

E. Extermination 1. eliminating individual or whole group 2. assassinations, lynchings, massacres, terrorism, etnic cleansing th century- most violent in history 4. example – Holocaust III. Attempting to explain Prejudice A. Why does it exist? 1. serious effect of original sin 2. people too lazy to think 3. scapegoats are an easy way to deal with negative emotions 4. use it to deal with frustrations istead of the real source 5. in groups are always right; out groups always wrong and bad 6. gives people a feeling of superiority 7. it pays both psychologically and financially

B. How do people become prejudiced 1. no one is born prejudiced 2. nature vs. nurture 3. factors: a. home is the central school for prejudice 1) passed on by parents 2) schools, neighborhoods, church groups often reinforce b. sexism is a key 1) males should have more power than girls 2) girls might stuggle with feeling of inferiority

C. Who are prejudiced? 1. difficulty with dealing with ambiguity – either-or 2. have low self esteem – want to feel good about themselves D. Overcoming prejudice 1. working with a different group at a task on common goals 2. participating in programs where we put self in other’s shoes 3. becoming aware of how inconsistenr it is with one’s values and attitudes 4. establishing laws, regulations, social norms that require fair treatment