PREJUDICE, DISCRIMINATION & STEREOTYPES In To Kill A Mockingbird

Definition of Prejudice Derived from ‘pre-judge’ a preconceived belief, opinion, or judgment made without ascertaining the facts of a case the act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions

What are the possible different types of prejudice?

Usage of the word ‘Prejudice’ Used to refer to a preconceived judgment toward a group of people or a single person because of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, line of work or other personal characteristics Usually used in a negative sense Implies fear, aversion and antipathy (opposite of sympathy)

‘Us’ v. ‘Them’ Polarisation of two groups (eg. Whites v. Coloured’) ‘Us’ is viewed favourably, and ‘them’ viewed in negative terms

Prejudice v. Discrimination Prejudice is an unreasonable belief or opinion about an individual or a group of people Prejudice is internal Prejudice is not visible; its presence is inferred from discriminatory acts Discrimination is the unequal or unfair treatment of a person as a result of prejudice Discrimination is external; it is an action Discrimination is visible

Types of Discrimination Personal / individual discrimination: directed towards an individual (eg. Treatment of Boo Radley) Legal discrimination: refers to unequal treatment, on the grounds of group membership, that is upheld by law. (eg. The ‘Jim Crow’ Segregation Laws; Apartheid Laws in Africa) Institutional discrimination: refers to unequal treatment that is entrenched in basic social institutions resulting in advantaging one group over another

Prejudice v. Stereotypes Prejudices are abstract- general preconceptions / attitudes a person or group of people Stereotypes are generalisations of existing characteristics that are overly simplistic

Stereotypes & Discrimination Stereotypes distort our perception: once a stereotype is activated, it brings to mind the traits associated with the stereotype When information inconsistent with the stereotype arises, there is a tendency to reject the information, or force-fit the information into the existing stereotype Pg 164

Prejudice Discrimination Stereotypes

Prejudice is learned Children acquire negative attitudes towards social groups through direct and vicarious learning (pp. 80: ‘Why don’t you get a coloured man?’)

What are the types of prejudice or discrimination present in TKAM?

Racial Religion Social Gender

Racial Races are distinguished from one another by such characteristics as hair color and texture, skin color, eye color and shape, size of limb and body parts, and facial organs.

Maycomb is situated in Southern USA Backwardness and narrow-mindedness of the community fuelled racism (pg 11) Isolated – away from the river Population has been unchanged for many decades with the same families occupying Maycomb Prejudice towards anything that is different from the norm

Religion Isolation of the Radleys Due to this family not attending church; they don’t conform to other codes of behaviour Community sees church as a pastime – reflects their inward view and narrow mindedness Pg 15

Social Due to snobbish and intolerant attitude towards those of a lower class Ewells are outcasts; they lived on the outskirts of the town Lack of dignity they display in the way they live

Can you identify textual examples of Racism v. Racial Discrimination? Sexism v. Gender Discrimination?

Racism & Racial Discrimination Evident from Atticus’ speech (pp. 211: ‘…the evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women…’) The unjust verdict in Tom Robinson’s trial

Sexism & Gender Discrimination Aunt Alexandra’s (and Maycomb society’s) perception of a lady / idea of the Southern Belle Jem’s treatment of Scout