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Discrimination v. Prejudice

What’s the difference? Discrimination usually involves actions Discrimination usually involves actions Prejudice refers to attitudes Prejudice refers to attitudes

2 types of discrimination Legal discrimination Upheld by law Examples: Apartheid (South Africa) Plessy v Ferguson (separate but equal) Brown v Topeka Board of Education (desegregation) Affirmative Action

2 types of discrimination Institutionalized Discrimination An outgrowth of the structure of a society Self-perpetuating Can occur when the society takes legal steps to end discriminatory practices Example Police forces used to have height requirements, but these were deemed by courts to discriminate against women, Latinos, and other individuals. Racial profiling Racial profiling

Prejudice Prejudice starts with a stereotype Stereotype – –An oversimplified, exaggerated or unfavorable generalization about a group of people – –Example:   All Irish people are hot-tempered drunks   Others?

Prejudice Self-fulfilling prophecy – –A prediction that results in behavior that makes the prediction come true – –Example:   If a teacher doesn’t think a student will learn, that teacher is less likely to push that student. Then the student won’t learn; therefore, proving the teacher correct.   The “I can’t” attitude almost always leads to a self- fulfilling prophecy

Prejudice Racism – –The belief that one’s own race or ethnic group is naturally superior to other races or ethnic groups. – –It has been used as a justification for slavery and genocide (even immigration laws in US)

Merton’s Patterns Active Bigot Active Bigot –Prejudiced and openly discriminate –Example:  KKK Timid Bigot Timid Bigot –Prejudiced but is afraid to discriminate because of societal pressures

Merton’s Pattern Fair-weather liberal Fair-weather liberal –Not prejudiced but discriminatory anyway because of societal pressure –Example  The southern white restaurant owner during Jim Crow who felt in his heart that inequality between the races was wrong, but who still refused to service blacks for fear of being burned out by other whites

Merton’s Patterns All-weather liberal All-weather liberal –Not prejudiced and does not discriminate