Ch.5 Building Inclusive Communities Stereotypes - Prejudice – Discrimination- Racism

What is prejudice? An attitude of hostility directed at whole groups of people involving a prejudgment based on insufficient data What is a stereotype? A view of a person or group that is based on inaccurate or incomplete knowledge

Stereotypes & Prejudice Negative prejudice... When stereotypes are combined with fear or selfishness, they can become prejudice. Threatens the rights of people Illogically exhibits stereotypical thinking Resists new information

Roots of Prejudice Prejudice is learned The home is the central school for learning prejudice Sexism is one of the earliest prejudices formed

Antilocution – speaking against Avoidance – avoiding members of a disliked group Discrimination – harmful actions against disliked persons Physical attack – violence and hate crimes Extermination – killing the undesirable person or group Stages of Prejudice Stages of Prejudice

Physical Attack: Hate Crimes Did you know…. 47.3% are racially motivated 20% are motivated by religious bias 19.3% result from sexual-orientation bias 12.8% result from ethnicity/national origin basis.6% were prompted by disability bias

‘Extermination’ Types of extermination:  1. Assassinations  2. Lynchings  3. Massacres  4. Terrorist bombings  5. Genocide   Examples: The Holocaust, Rwandan genocide in 1994

Attempting to Explain Prejudice Q. Why do people hold on to their prejudices?. People are too careless to think through and let go of prejudice. Scapegoats are an easy way to deal with negative emotions. Prejudice makes people feel superior. Prejudice thrives because it pays both psychologically and financially Q. What are some characteristics of people who are prejudiced? A. Difficulty dealing with ambiguity A. Low self-esteem A. Authority-oriented 1. Think of someone you know who is prejudiced. How do they exhibit one or more of these behaviors? How can you have a positive impact on their prejudice?________________________ ______________________________________________________

Ways to Overcome Prejudice Work with people of different backgrounds Participate in programs that put you in the shoes of others Discourage stereotypical language and prejudice among family and friends Establish laws/rules that require the fair treatment of others

Additional Ways to Overcome Prejudice 1. Pray for your ability to include and accept others 2. Learn to celebrate differences 3. Recognize inequalities in your school, work place, and parish 4. Avoid racial stereotypes, jokes, slurs 5. Refuse to participate in any verbal attacks on homosexual persons 6. Treat those with disabilities as unique individuals 7. Visit a nursing home with some friends 8. Avoid sexist comments 9. Include rather than exclude 2. Choose one suggestion from the this slide or the last that you can do. Explain, in concrete terms, how you will work to overcome prejudice. __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________

Prejudice & Discrimination Discrimination occurs when people who are motivated by prejudice use their power to deny individuals or groups the right to participate in community. Structural discrimination occurs when patterns of personal discrimination make their way into social structures; it may be consciously chosen (apartheid) or unconsciously chosen by an institution or society.

Types of Discrimination: Sexism misguided belief that one sex is superior to the other Examples of sexism: In no country in today’s world are women paid as well as men ($.78 / $1.00, etc.) There is greater poverty in households headed by women Some countries restrict the political participation of women Women condemned to unending menial labor Women victimized through violence

Ageism Ageism prejudice exhibited against older people Examples of ageism: More and more elderly are living in poverty Stability of Social Security and Medicare are of great concern as more people retire The move to legalize euthanasia may also decrease palliative (end of life) care

Racism A personal bias and social disorder rooted in the belief that one race is superior to another. It involves not only prejudice by also the use of religious, social, political, economic, or historical power to keep one race privileged.

Institutional Racism The term "institutional racism" describes societal patterns that have the net effect of imposing oppressive or otherwise negative conditions against identifiable groups on the basis of race or ethnicity. 3. Why is it important to differentiate institutional racism from personal bias?______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

Effects of Racism *suffer disproportionately from violence *are incarcerated disproportionately *have shorter life spans *lack educational opportunities *have a large number of families headed by single women There still is a large income gap between African Americans and Caucasians African Americans: Also, keep in mind...

Effects of Racism * Have a history of working low-paying, sometimes unsafe jobs in ranches, farms, mines, and railroads *Have trouble getting a decent education (children of migrant workers, etc.) * Face immigration problems * Suffer from low wages, lack of health care and decent education, unsafe and congested housing Hispanic/Latino Americans:

Effects of Racism Effects of Racism on Native Americans Negative Effects of Native American Reservations Housing Homelessness Poverty Unemployment Death rates among youth Education

Responding to Discrimination & Racism: Affirmative Action Employment programs required by federal statutes and regulations designed to remedy discriminatory practices in hiring minority group members. These programs are meant to: eliminate existing and continuing discrimination remedy lingering effects of past discrimination create systems and procedures to prevent future discrimination They are commonly based on population percentages of minority groups in a particular area. Factors considered: race, color, sex, creed, and age.

Responding to Racism Personally Attitudes about differences and diversity: When we are around people who are unlike us, how do we feel deep down? Self acceptance: People who have a hard time accepting themselves often fail to accept others. They make a show out of what they think is wrong with others to bolster a false sense of security. Responding to prejudice: How do we respond to prejudice that is directed against us?

Responding to Racism Personally The roots of our fear and hatred: Do we believe that others’ differences somehow hold a threat or challenge to our own way of doing things? Are we taking out our anger at an individual who has harmed us by hating all those who seem to be like him or her? Basic approach to life: Do we have concern about other people or contributing to the common god of our communities?

Responding to Racism Personally 4. Below, reflect on one of the five areas in the previous two slides you want to focus on. _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

Responding to Racism as a Society Historical patterns: How have past inequalities affected the ability of people to participate in society today? Patterns of power: Who holds power in society, and how does that affect the ability of all to participate? Opportunity for all: Do all people have access to the benefits of society? Honesty: Do we as a community honestly acknowledge and address patterns of exclusion?

Responding to Racism as a Society 5. Examine a community to which you belong, using some or all of the questions listed in the previous slide. _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________

Christian Roots of Inclusivity During Jesus’ ministry, he included everyone, especially foreigners and those seen as ‘outcasts’ by society Things to Consider about Inclusivity St. Paul encouraged his converts to see through the external differences that separate us

The Way of Inclusivity Racial Justice Root prejudice out of own lives Celebrate diversity Learn from others Empathize with others Support efforts to eradicate discrimination Appreciate our common humanity