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
A person distrusts a new neighbour only because of the neighbour's race, before they even meet. What do you think this is?
- Prejudice: a negative attitude formed before knowing the person.
- Discrimination, because the neighbour has already been treated unfairly.
- A stereotype, because a negative feeling about a group is a stereotype.
Show the answer
Prejudice: a negative attitude formed before knowing the person.
Prejudice is prejudging people by their group. It can lead to discrimination, but an attitude alone is not an unfair action.
Prejudice is a negative attitude towards people because of the group they belong to, formed without getting to know them.
A stereotype is an assumption about what a group is like. Prejudice is a prejudged attitude, such as dislike, suspicion or contempt, towards people because of their group. They can feed each other, but they are not the same thing.
For example, an assumption about a group's behaviour might be used to justify distrust before meeting anyone from it. Such attitudes stop people meeting, cause hurt and make cooperation harder.
Prejudice can lead to discrimination: unfair treatment because of group identity. But an attitude alone does not prove that a particular unfair action happened. You need evidence of the action.
Disagreeing with someone's actual proposal is not automatically prejudice. Look at the reason given. Is it a relevant concern backed by evidence about the idea, or a judgement about the person based on their group?
- Prejudice
- A negative attitude based on someone's group.
- Stereotype vs prejudice
- A stereotype is a belief; prejudice is an attitude.
- Can lead to
- Discrimination: unfair treatment.
Real examples to use
Attack on a Singaporean in London, 2020
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Singaporean student Jonathan Mok was assaulted in London. His attackers blamed him for the virus because he looked Asian. Prejudice turned into violence.
Worked example: Judging neighbours before meeting them
A resident learns that new neighbours follow a different religion. Before meeting them, he says he does not trust them. He knows nothing about how they behave.
- His distrust is based only on their religion.
- He has formed a judgement without meeting them.
- This is prejudice. We do not know whether he then treats them unfairly; that action would be discrimination and needs separate evidence.
Watch out for this
Any disagreement is prejudice, and prejudice always means discrimination has happened.
Disagreeing with an idea is not prejudice. Prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is an action.
Check your understanding
What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?
- Prejudice is a public act; discrimination is a private belief about a group.
- Prejudice is about race; discrimination is about religion or nationality.
- Prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is unfair treatment in action.
Show the answer
Prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is unfair treatment in action.
Right. Prejudice can lead to discrimination, but they are different.