Identifying Prejudice and Discrimination

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Identifying Prejudice and Discrimination
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Questions

• As our society becomes more diverse, does
  stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination and
  racism increase or decrease?
• What forms of racism, discrimination and
  prejudice have occurred in world history? Why?

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Splitting hairs Defining words

• In your tables, define and give an example of
  each of the following - RACISM-
  DISCRIMINATION- PREJUDICE- STEREOTYPE-
  GENOCIDE

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Definitions

• Racism Negative behaviour based on an
  incorrect assumption that one race is inherently
  superior to others
• Discrimination Unfair actions directed against
  people based on their race, gender, ethnicity,
  nationality, language, faith or sexual
  orientation
• Prejudice A set of opinions, attitudes and
  feelings that unfairly case a group and its
  members in a negative light without legitimate
  reasons
• Stereotypes false or generalized beliefs about a
  group of people that result in categorizing
  members without regard for individual difference
  
• Genocide The most extreme form of systemic
  discrimination, by which deliberate attempts are
  made by authorities at mass murder of any
  national, ethnic, racial, or religious group

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Other Important Definitions

• Anti-Semitism particular form of individual or
  systemic discrimination directed against Jews
• Systemic Discrimination describes a system that
  favours one or some groups over others in terms
  of hiring, benefits, promotions, and pay
  increases
• Systemic Racism Discrimination based on a sense
  of racial superiority is part of the philosophy
  and practices of a company, institution, or a
  whole society
• Systemic Sexism Discrimination based on a sense
  of male superiority is part of the philosophy and
  practices of a company, institution, or a whole
  society

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Case Study 1

• 1948- social scientist S. Wax conducted an
  experiment to showcase discrimination in Canada
• Experiment Respond to 100 ads for summer
  results in Ontario and requested room
  reservations for the same dates under two
  different names Mr. Greenberg and Mr.
  Lockwood
• Results
• Conclusions?
• Same experiment conducted using names Mr. Smith
  and Mr. Little Bear
• Results
• Conclusions?

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Case Study 2

• Texan named Howard Griffin conducted an unusual
  experiment to experience prejudice in 1960
• Used dark pigment and tanning lamps to
  temporarily change his skin to a dark colour
• Arranged with a African American magazine to
  publish a series of stories about his day to day
  encounters as a black man travelling across the
  southern US in search of work
• Results
• Reaction
• Effects

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Case Study 3

• 2001, Moncton NB
• 18 year old male arrested after a metre high
  cross found burning on the front lawn of a black
  family
• Where does freedom of expression and speech end
  and freedom from discrimination begin?
• Potential charges-property mischief-vandalism-
  hate crime

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Map of Prejudice
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Kenneth E. Boulding

• In 1956, he published The Image Knowledge in
  Life and Society
• The book outlined a view of perception where he
  stated we are shaped and changed by the personal
  background and experiences of individuals.
• He used the image to describe how people do not
  perceive things exactly as they exist in the real
  world
• He believed instead they responded to an image of
  reality and this image differs from person to
  person
• How can his views be related to the subject of
  stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination?

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The Paradigm

• In 1989, American Psychologist Joel Barker worked
  on the concept of paradigm
• This was what he called the set of rules and
  conditions stored in the brain that a person uses
  to interpret and understand sensory experience
• A paradigm acts like a filter through which
  information is processed
• Eg. The approach of a stranger can be seen by one
  person as a possible threat, while someone else
  may see it as just another passerby Why is this
  the case?

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Think about

• Is prejudice learned or is it innate?
• What causes hate?
• Can prejudice become unlearned?
• Movie American History X
• TASK Read chapter 9 textbook (concept map /
  chapter notes) will be on exam.