Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination all share a uniquely interconnecting, causal, and yet, reciprocal relationship. Specifically, stereotypes perpetuate prejudice that often results in discrimination. In turn, such discriminatory practices often cause people to buy into stereotypes that continue the cyclical relationship.

For instance, if persons of color are often the targets of racial profiling due to a prevailing belief that people of color are innately criminal, then more than likely, the vast majority of persons arrested will be people of color. The high number of arrests continues to propagate the hegemonic perception that people of color are more inclined to commit crimes than those who are not people of color.

Select the buttons below to read more about stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.

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Stereotypes

Stereotypes are unreliable generalizations about members of a group.

Examples of stereotypes include:

• Asians cannot drive.
• Blacks are lazy and unintelligent.
• Hispanics are illegal and travel in large numbers.
• Middle Easterners or Muslims are terrorists.
• Whites are wealthy.

Prejudice

Prejudice is literally the result of prejudging someone based on incorrect generalizations or stereotypes. These generalizations or stereotypes are usually negative, and often are the result of ethnocentrism.

Discrimination

Discrimination is frequently the result of prejudice. Prejudice involves negative feelings or beliefs about another group, most often a minority group but is not defined by behavior or action. Prejudices are rooted in beliefs or misconceptions, whereas discrimination is the act of denying someone an opportunity or equal treatment due to the prejudice of an individual, a group, or a political entity. Discrimination can be individual and institutional.

Individual discrimination is typically more overt and occurs at a micro-level. An example of individual discrimination is using an ethnic or racial slur against someone.

You will learn more about institutional discrimination on the next screen.

Racial, Ethnic, and Minority Groups

A racial group is a group that is distinguishable due to physical characteristics or socially significant features attached to them. In the United States, basic, limited categories are used to describe one’s race and/or ethnicity. Categories such as “black,” “white,” or “Asian” are usually used to describe U.S. citizens. This prevents the observation or notation of racial nuances. However, in other countries, people may be identified according to a color gradient.

Increasing numbers of people are identifying themselves as multiracial. Many individuals, especially young adults, struggle with social pressure to choose a single identity.

Racial categories within the United States have emerged as part of a socio-historical process. As part of this process, groups of people have been labeled or categorized based on physical characteristics and historical, cultural, and economic factors.

There was a time in U.S. history when Italian and Irish immigrants were not considered to be “white” or “Caucasian.” The process of defining racial groups is ongoing and somewhat controversial.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently decided to remove the word “Negro” as a racial category. The word was left on the Census form, as many older, African Americans did not self-identify as black or African American. During the 1960s and 1970s, blacks self-identified as Blacks where that became the norm (where previously to say “black” was insulting. Then blacks self-identified as Afro Americans and later, as African Americans and began referring to whites as Caucasians. That has recently become more common usage. The two terms (black/African American) are now used interchangeably, and both are “politically correct.” Blacks who use the term “African American” will often refer to whites as Caucasian, and some whites have picked up that terminology as well.

An ethnic group is distinguished by its national origin and distinctive cultural beliefs, habits, and patterns that may be associated or borne out of its respective national origin. Accordingly, anyone born in the United States is automatically considered American regardless of their race, or physical features. However, someone born in another country such as Britain would be considered British. Therefore, a Black person who was born in Britain would not be considered African-American. Instead, they would be considered a Black British – not African American.

A minority group is first, a group of people who are distinguishable in some way from the majority population. In the American context, the term “minority group” is used to indicate a group that has been historically discriminated against or subordinated with respect to the majority group. A minority group is also viewed as a group of people with less power than that of the dominant group. Speaking sociologically, it does not matter if a minority group is large or small in numbers: It is the lack of relative power that demands the categorization of minority group.

A racial group is a group that is distinguishable due to physical characteristics or socially significant features attached to them. In the United States, basic, limited categories are used to describe one’s race and/or ethnicity. Categories such as “black,” “white,” or “Asian” are usually used to describe U.S. citizens. This prevents the observation or notation of racial nuances. However, in other countries, people may be identified according to a color gradient.

Increasing numbers of people are identifying themselves as multiracial. Many individuals, especially young adults, struggle with social pressure to choose a single identity.

Racial categories within the United States have emerged as part of a socio-historical process. As part of this process, groups of people have been labeled or categorized based on physical characteristics and historical, cultural, and economic factors.

There was a time in U.S. history when Italian and Irish immigrants were not considered to be “white” or “Caucasian.” The process of defining racial groups is ongoing and somewhat controversial.

Privileges of the Dominant

Privileges of the dominant, majority group are also known as white privilege. This term refers to the unspoken advantages of being white. The term was originally introduced by Peggy McIntosh, a white woman. She developed a list of behaviors or everyday occurrences that reflect the existence of white privilege in American society. She noted the things that she was able to do without thinking about them or being reminded of her race or position within the social hierarchy. The list was published in her article entitled, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.”

Examples she cited included:

• Criticizing the American government and talking about how one fears its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider
• Easily buying posters, postcards, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring members of their race
• Easily finding a good or pleasant place to live, with neighbors who are friendly or neutral
• Using checks or credit cards without suspicion
• Turning on the television or opening the front page of the paper and seeing members of one’s race widely represented
• Browsing through stores without being followed
• Getting help from a doctor or lawyer with no trouble
• Easily finding history books that describe achievements of whites
• Coming across television programs that include whites
• Never being asked to speak on behalf of their race
• Not having to worry about protecting children from discrimination.

This article is 25 years old. Things have changed quite a bit since she wrote this. Further, some of the examples are not as evident as they were in the past such as buying posters, postcards, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring members of their own race. Individuals can turn on the TV and see members of their own race represented but the representation is disproportionately negative, i.e. as criminals, drug dealers and pimps in the case of Blacks and Hispanics. Unfortunately, the number of Native Americans represented on TV is extremely small. While the number of Asians represented on TV is also small, they are usually depicted in a passive or positive manner.

Definition of Terms

Race – a socially defined category based on real or perceived biological differences between groups of people (page 220)

Ethnicity – a socially defined category based on a common language, religion, nationality, history, or some other cultural factor (page 220)

Symbolic Ethnicity – an ethnic identity that is only relevant on specific occasions and does not significantly affect everyday life (page 221)

Situational Ethnicity – an ethnic identity that can be either displayed or concealed depending on its usefulness in a given situation (page 221)

Minority Group – social group that is systematically denied the same access to power and resources available to society’s dominant groups though they are not necessarily fewer in number than the dominant groups (page 223)

Racism – a set of beliefs about the claimed superiority of one racial or ethnic group; used to justify inequality and often rooted in the assumption that differences among groups are genetic (page 224)

Prejudice – an idea about the characteristics of a group that is applied to all members of that group and is unlikely to change regardless of the evidence against it (page 224)

Discrimination – unequal treatment of individuals based on their membership in a social group; usually motivated by prejudice (page 224)

Individual Discrimination – discrimination carried out by one person against another (page 224)

Institutional Discrimination – discrimination carried out systematically by institutions (political, economic, educational, and others) that affects all members of a group who come into contact with it (page 225)

White nationalism – the belief that the nation should be built around a white identity that is reflected in religion, politics, economics, and culture (page 226)

Privilege – unearned advantage accorded to members of dominant social groups (males, whites, heterosexuals, the physically able, etc.) (page 226)

Color-blind racism – an ideology that removes race as an explanation for any form of unequal treatment (page 226)

Race consciousness – an ideology that acknowledges race as a powerful social construct that shapes our individual and social experiences (page 227)

Microaggressions – everyday uses of subtle verbal and nonverbal communications that convey denigrating or dismissive messages to members of certain social groups (page 227)

Cultural appropriation – the adoption of cultural elements belonging to an oppressed group by members of the dominant group, without permission and often for the dominant group’s gain (page 227)

Reverse racism  – the claim by whites that they suffer discrimination based upon their race and, therefore, experience social disadvantages (page 229)