11.3 Prejudice, Discrimination, and Racism - Introduction to Sociology 3e

Learning Objectives:

• Understand differences between stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and racism.
• Identify types of discrimination.
• Analyze racial tension sociologically.

Key Concepts:

Stereotypes:

• Definition: Oversimplified generalizations about a group.
• Characteristics: Can be positive (about one's group) or negative (about other groups).
• Origin: Rarely created; often recycled from assimilated groups to new subordinate groups.

Prejudice:

• Definition: Preconceived beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes about a group.
• Characteristics: Not based on experience; a prejudgment.
• Example: Criminalization of marijuana tied to anti-immigrant sentiment.
• Learning: Prejudice is taught and learned through socialization and media.

Discrimination:

• Definition: Actions against a group based on race, age, religion, etc.
• Forms: Individual and institutional.
• Examples: Redlining, biased hiring, "Whites Only" signs.
• Privilege: Benefits received by dominant groups, such as White privilege.
• Types of People:
  • Unprejudiced nondiscriminators
  • Unprejudiced discriminators
  • Prejudiced nondiscriminators
  • Prejudiced discriminators

Racism:

• Definition: Prejudice and discrimination to justify inequalities, asserting racial superiority.
• Types:
  • Individual/Interpersonal
  • Systemic/Structural
  • Racial Profiling
  • Historical Racism
  • Cultural Racism
  • Colorism
  • Color-Avoidance Racism

How to Be an Antiracist:

• Challenge Racism: Engage in anti-racism work at personal and systemic levels.
• Recognize Implicit Bias: Unconscious biases affect actions.
• Antiracism Actions:
  • Own and understand internalized racist ideas.
  • Identify and replace racist policies.

Big Picture: Racial Tensions in the US

• Case Study: Michael Brown's death in Ferguson highlights racial tensions.
• Issues:
  • Racial profiling
  • Police force racial imbalance
  • Redlining
  • De facto segregation
• Ongoing Tensions: No significant change in racial disparities in police actions.

Summary:

The section explored the nuanced differences between stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and racism, emphasizing their impact on societal structures and individual attitudes. It highlighted the persistent racial tensions in the US and proposed anti-racism as a proactive stance to combat these issues.