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This page covers the following topics:
Prejudice and Discrimination
Causes of Prejudice
Key concepts that argue against prejudice
Justified / Positive Discrimination
Christian, Muslim and Hindu views
This page covers the following topics:
Prejudice and Discrimination
Causes of Prejudice
Key concepts that argue against prejudice
Justified / Positive Discrimination
Christian, Muslim and Hindu views
Prejudice and Discrimination
Prejudice is the attitude of someone whose opinion is not based on fact. Prejudice can be triggered by differences of religion, race, colour, sex, language, disability or age. Prejudice is not illegal, as an attitude can’t be illegal, but discrimination is illegal.
Prejudice (Thoughts and Ideas): When a person has a preconceived idea about someone else based on some group they belong to. Their ideas and reasoning are unfair and/or unsubstantiated (not proven or supported by evidence) and without full knowledge of a situation.
Discrimination (Actions): When people act on their prejudices and a person(s) is treated differently (usually unjust treatment) because of their membership of a group, often resulting from a prejudice. Discrimination can be both positive and negative...
Discrimination (Actions): When people act on their prejudices and a person(s) is treated differently (usually unjust treatment) because of their membership of a group, often resulting from a prejudice. Discrimination can be both positive and negative...
- Negative Discrimination: Shopping centres banning hoodies being worn.
- Positive Discrimination: Offering your seat to an elderly or disabled person.
Causes of prejudice
The Media - Can both reinforce and influence stereotypes. For example, Italians may complain about regularly being shown as gangsters in films. On the other hand, homosexuals may feels they are being portrayed positively in programmes.
Scapegoat - Fear and uncertainty about the future can encourage prejudice, or blaming certain groups for societies problems. This can justify treating them badly. Eg. Nazis persuaded Jews were to blame for economic problems to justify extreme discrimination.
Ignorance - Not knowing a group of of people or understanding their culture/background, it is easier to stereotype and reject them. Lack of education and knowledge can lead to ignorance that breeds prejudice. This in turn leads to fear of 'different' people.
Influence - Children who's parents are prejudiced may grow up hearing racist/sexist comments and are likely to imitate. Friends/neighbours may also reinforce prejudice, since most feel comfortable with similar opinions, outsiders may be regarded with suspicion.
Victims - Some may prejudice against others because they themselves have been victims of prejudice/discrimination. Their prejudice is the way they cope being victims.
Bad Experiences - Basing views of others on experiences of people from a particular race/religion. Eg. An old lady mugged by a teenager, she may think all teenagers thieve.
Scapegoat - Fear and uncertainty about the future can encourage prejudice, or blaming certain groups for societies problems. This can justify treating them badly. Eg. Nazis persuaded Jews were to blame for economic problems to justify extreme discrimination.
Ignorance - Not knowing a group of of people or understanding their culture/background, it is easier to stereotype and reject them. Lack of education and knowledge can lead to ignorance that breeds prejudice. This in turn leads to fear of 'different' people.
Influence - Children who's parents are prejudiced may grow up hearing racist/sexist comments and are likely to imitate. Friends/neighbours may also reinforce prejudice, since most feel comfortable with similar opinions, outsiders may be regarded with suspicion.
Victims - Some may prejudice against others because they themselves have been victims of prejudice/discrimination. Their prejudice is the way they cope being victims.
Bad Experiences - Basing views of others on experiences of people from a particular race/religion. Eg. An old lady mugged by a teenager, she may think all teenagers thieve.
Key concepts that argue against prejudice
Tolerance - Accepting and valuing everyone and their qualities. Everyone has the same right to keep their own ways of life as long as they do not harm others/break laws. Everyone has the right to live their own lifestyle the way they wish to (i.e. their religion).
Justice - We are equal. All people have the same value and rights to live and work freely, as well as being at peace. Obviously, everyone does not have equal opportunities in life. Religious think all should be treated with justice, that is, fairly and according to law.
Harmony - Harmony means living at peace with all. It requires to act justly and have tolerance and understanding. Lower and middle class should not harmonise. Religious believers have a sense of community and responsibility for one other, sharing similar values.
Value of the individual - Human rights are based on the religious belief that all are created by God and have a special value to Him. We should treat others equally, inc. other classes.
Justice - We are equal. All people have the same value and rights to live and work freely, as well as being at peace. Obviously, everyone does not have equal opportunities in life. Religious think all should be treated with justice, that is, fairly and according to law.
Harmony - Harmony means living at peace with all. It requires to act justly and have tolerance and understanding. Lower and middle class should not harmonise. Religious believers have a sense of community and responsibility for one other, sharing similar values.
Value of the individual - Human rights are based on the religious belief that all are created by God and have a special value to Him. We should treat others equally, inc. other classes.
Justified / Positive Discrimination
Discrimination is treating people differently. An example is giving up your seat to old/disabled/pregnant person. Are the following examples ever justifiable?
- If you lost and you are a child, would you go up to a woman with children or a hairy biker? Is your decision justified?
- Paralympics: Creating a fair and level playing field by putting one-legged and wheelchair users in separate groups.
- Weight Categories in sport. Weight can be an unfair advantage/disadvantage, you can discriminate because you are correcting unfairness.
- Hiring more women for executive roles in a company because there is a low amount of women in executive roles and because they face sexist discrimination.
- Campaigns to recruit more black and asian police officers due to low numbers of ethnic minority police.
Christian views on Prejudice and Discrimination
Christianity teaches that everyone is equal in the eyes of God. Therefore there is no reason to treat people differently. Each person is unique and made in God's image. We have no right to judge God's creation.
Christian teaching about other people is based on love and this is stated by Jesus:
Christian teaching about other people is based on love and this is stated by Jesus:
Muslim views on Prejudice and Discrimination
The Qur’an (the Divine Book revealed to the Prophet Muhammad [saw]) teaches that everyone was created by Allah (God) and that everyone is equal.
Hindu views on Prejudice and Discrimination
According to the scriptures, Hindus belong to one of four varnas/social groups. Each varna has associated with it specific duties (dharma). The four varnas:
Despite changes in the law there is still evidence of discrimination against Dalits.
Hinduism teaches that all people are part of one unified whole. All life forms are part of the 'stream' of life, so harming another living thing is the same as harming yourself.
As a result, many Hindus believe that it is wrong to be prejudiced against someone just because of their ethnic origin or other differences.
- Brahmins (priests and teachers)
- Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers, administrators and leaders of society)
- Vaishyas (traders and merchants)
- Shudras (a variety of jobs, serving the needs of the other three varnas)
Despite changes in the law there is still evidence of discrimination against Dalits.
Hinduism teaches that all people are part of one unified whole. All life forms are part of the 'stream' of life, so harming another living thing is the same as harming yourself.
As a result, many Hindus believe that it is wrong to be prejudiced against someone just because of their ethnic origin or other differences.
Where next?
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