Prejudice and Discrimination
Bethany Norris – Unit 1 – Prejudice and Discrimination
Part One
Prejudice:
The dictionary defines prejudice as an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge. This means that a person may form an opinion on a person or a particular group of people without having any facts or knowledge about that person or group. Prejudice is normally perceived as being bad but there are some instances where prejudice is an aid to survival for example if you see several scruffy men parked in a van in a dark alley, you will form a pre judgment that they must be up to no good so you choose to not walk down the alley. They could simply be movers, but healthy prejudice tells you not to take the chance.
Discrimination
Direct discrimination is defined as treating one particular group of people less favourably than others because of their race, colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. There is also positive discrimination in which an individual is allowed to advance themselves because of their gender, race, sexually orientation, age etc. Example if an Asian person is hired simply because they are Asian due to the stereotype that Asians are smart and good students that’s a positive discrimination. Indirect discrimination is defined as an apparently neutral specification, criteria or practice that would disadvantage people on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation unless the practice can be objectively justified. For example a department store prohibits its employees from wearing hats when serving customers. This rule means that people whose religious beliefs require them to cover their heads, such as Muslim women, are discriminated against and cannot carry out their job. The store is indirectly discriminating against this group of people unless it can demonstrate that there is valid reason.
Stereotyping
Part One
Prejudice:
The dictionary defines prejudice as an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge. This means that a person may form an opinion on a person or a particular group of people without having any facts or knowledge about that person or group. Prejudice is normally perceived as being bad but there are some instances where prejudice is an aid to survival for example if you see several scruffy men parked in a van in a dark alley, you will form a pre judgment that they must be up to no good so you choose to not walk down the alley. They could simply be movers, but healthy prejudice tells you not to take the chance.
Discrimination
Direct discrimination is defined as treating one particular group of people less favourably than others because of their race, colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. There is also positive discrimination in which an individual is allowed to advance themselves because of their gender, race, sexually orientation, age etc. Example if an Asian person is hired simply because they are Asian due to the stereotype that Asians are smart and good students that’s a positive discrimination. Indirect discrimination is defined as an apparently neutral specification, criteria or practice that would disadvantage people on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation unless the practice can be objectively justified. For example a department store prohibits its employees from wearing hats when serving customers. This rule means that people whose religious beliefs require them to cover their heads, such as Muslim women, are discriminated against and cannot carry out their job. The store is indirectly discriminating against this group of people unless it can demonstrate that there is valid reason.
Stereotyping
References: 1. McGlip, Norma. "Deaf Century (Open Library)." Open Library. Channel 4 Television, 1999. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. . 2. Carvel, John. "Former Male Nurse Wins Sex Discrimination Case | Society | The Guardian." Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian | Guardian.co.uk. 10 June 2006. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. . 3. Clover, Ben. "Male Nurses More Likely to Be Sanctioned by NMC | News | Nursing Times." Nursing Practice, NHS and Health Care News, Online Nurse CPD Training, Community Pages, Blogs and More. 6 July 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. . 4. "BBC NEWS | Health | Discrimination Case Win for Nurse." BBC News - Home. 9 June 2006. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. . 5. "BBC NEWS | Health | Discrimination Case Win for Nurse." BBC News - Home. 9 June 2006. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. . 6. "BBC NEWS | Health | Discrimination Case Win for Nurse." BBC News - Home. 9 June 2006. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. .