What this lesson teaches
I can tell stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination apart and explain how each one harms people.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 2, Experiences and effects of living in a diverse society. Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination
Make a guess
An employer rejects a job applicant who meets every requirement, because of the applicant's nationality. The employer says they hold no prejudice. Is this discrimination?
- Yes, the unfair treatment is linked to their group.
- No, because employers are free to choose whichever staff they prefer.
- No, because the employer says they have no dislike of that group.
Show the answer
Yes, the unfair treatment is linked to their group.
Discrimination is about what is done. A person may discriminate without admitting any prejudice.
Discrimination is treating someone unfairly because of their group, such as their race, religion or nationality.
Discrimination is unfair treatment linked to a person's group. It could be rejecting a job applicant because of their race or nationality, even though they meet all the requirements.
Discrimination is about what is done. A person may discriminate without admitting any prejudice. It shuts people out of opportunities and damages trust. Singapore's Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices say employers should hire on merit. Parliament passed the Workplace Fairness Act in January 2025. It is due to take effect by the end of 2027. From then, employers will be legally required not to discriminate on grounds such as race, religion, age or nationality. Until then, the guidelines set the standard employers are expected to follow.
Different outcomes do not always mean discrimination. A fair process with relevant requirements can lead to different results. Check the standards used and how they were applied.
- Discrimination
- Unfair treatment because of a person's group.
- Fair hiring
- Hiring on merit, as fair employment guidelines require.
- Check
- Were fair standards applied equally?
Real examples to use
Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices
Guidelines from the government, unions and employers since 2007 that ask employers to hire on merit, not on race, religion, age or nationality. Use it for how Singapore tries to prevent discrimination at work.
Workplace Fairness Act, 2025
Passed by Parliament on 8 January 2025 and due to take effect by the end of 2027. It will make fair hiring a legal duty. Use it for a response that turns a guideline into law.
Worked example: Left out of the photography team
A school photography team is open to anyone who can attend training. Hana can attend. The student organiser rejects her, saying students from poorer families 'would not fit in', while accepting others with the same availability.
- Hana meets the stated requirement.
- She is rejected because of her family's income.
- This is discrimination based on socio-economic status. Comparing her with the accepted students, who had the same availability, shows the rule was applied unfairly.
Watch out for this
Every rejection is discrimination, and there is no discrimination unless someone admits hostility.
Look at the reason and the standards used. Unfair treatment counts even if no one admits prejudice.
Check your understanding
A company rejects qualified applicants of one nationality and hires others with the same qualifications. What is this?
- A fair choice, as firms may prefer staff who fit in.
- Discrimination: unfair treatment based on the applicants' nationality.
- A stereotype, but not discrimination, since no one was harmed.
Show the answer
Discrimination: unfair treatment based on the applicants' nationality.
Yes. Equally qualified people are treated differently because of their group.
Check your understanding
Which of these is discrimination rather than prejudice?
- A manager rejects qualified applicants from one group.
- A person privately dislikes people from one group of residents.
- A friend repeats a stereotype about a group at a family dinner.
Show the answer
A manager rejects qualified applicants from one group.
Discrimination is unfair treatment in action.