Prejudice and Racism Sexism

Prejudice

Origins of Prejudice

In order to understand the assertion made by many sociologists regarding the origination of prejudice or foredeeming, it is essential to understand the meaning of prejudice and the differences between prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice is defined as an unfavorable feeling or opinion formed beforehand or without reason, thought or knowledge. Prejudice is further defined as "any unreasonable attitude that is unusually resistant to rational influence (Rosnow 1972, p. 53). Individuals are said to regularly make judgments or formulate opinions about other individuals without taking the time to examine all of the information. Whether the information is correct or incorrect, is provided to us through books, media, television, direct or indirect communication or any other source, this information is asserted to be not taken into account when considering the notion of prejudice.

It is important to note with the aforementioned widely accepted definitions and notions regarding prejudice, there is no mention of race, ethnicity or sexism as the critical, essential or foundational element necessary in order for prejudice to exist. The modern terminology of sociologically slanted and generally accepted definition of prejudice is absent these foundational factors although the first empirical and psychological research conducted on prejudice in the 1920's was conducted in order to attempt to prove white supremacy (Garth, 1925). Others have attributed prejudice to authoritarian personality types, (Plous, 2011.) while other scholar and historians have attributed this propensity to categorical thinking; a natural or normal process for humans. As the studies of prejudice were conducted in the 1970's, there was a paradigm shift, and the accepted thinking and empirical research began to assert that prejudice was not based more on negative or adverse feelings toward other groups but rather favoritism or positive feelings towards one's own group. In group and out of group biases have been noted as well as notions regarding cognitive dissonance regarding self and acting on dislike toward the 'out group'.

Counterargument

Although many ascribe to the assertions posited by noted sociologists with regard to the origin(s) of prejudice, for those who find themselves in the out group, those individuals or groups who have endured unjust social, political, economical, emotional, physical, and/or psychological ramifications from this ideology that is 'a part of human nature' the argument can certainly made that for some, the foundation of their opinions, philosophies or ideologies are rooted in and/or influenced by characteristics or factors such as race, ethnicity, class and/or gender. Many times the terminology is changed with this contextual frame of reference is applied to the ideas or ideologies; however, the end result for many who have been systemically disenfranchised because of personal characteristics or identifying inalterable markers significantly outweighs what scholars and empirical research posit as acceptable terminology.

Racism is generally defined as "the belief that races exist, that physical characteristics determine cultural traits and that racial characteristics make some groups superior (Blackwell, Smith, & Sorenson, 2003, p. 37). Sexism is generally defined as being linked to negative associations or sentiments regarding females that derive from the belief that females are inherently less capable and thereby worth less than males (Dovdio, Glick, & Rudman, 2005). Additionally and in general, classism is defined as "a biased or discriminatory attitude on distinctions made between social or economic classes (Blackwell, Smith, & Sorenson, 2003, p. 32). What seems to be consistent within these general parameters ascribed to these isms or other terminology used to describe specific prejudices is that they are based on belief. A belief is defined as something one accepts as real or true, a firmly held conviction or opinion, an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. What is common between these definitions and those posited by sociologists as the origins of prejudice is the fact that beliefs do not require irrefutable facts or information, whether true or false. Beliefs are simply that; and it is these kinds of belief in the absence of information regarded or considered that manifest as sexism, racism, classism, nationalism and so on.