Quartz 4

Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination

3 min read

in Diverse society like SG ⇒ there are many opportunities ⇒ for people from different socio-cultural and socia-economic backgrounds ⇒ to interact with one another.

  • differences in cultural backgrounds can sometimes lead to conflicting views on values, beliefs, practices and perspectives.
    • This can then cause misunderstandings and unhappiness.
      • This can then lead to negative sentiments, causing people to jump to conclusions about others

inaccurate and insensitive judgements and comments ⇒ often made based on ignorance and wrong assumptions

Stereotypes

Definition: generalized beliefs about a particular group of people are known as stereotypes SocialStudiesDefinitions

Example: I guess you can use any stereotype you know of: Indians are smelly, Malays are stupid etc.

Prejudice

Definition: refers to attitudes and feelings towards other groups ⇒ that are not based on reason or fact. can come in the form of stereotyping, assumptions, generalization, beliefs or feelings about a group SocialStudiesDefinitions

  • negative prejudice ⇒ can take form of insensitive and hurtful remarks or discriminatory actions
  • Prejudice ⇒ can also take the form of xenophobia ⇒ which is directed against people of a specific nationality or from a particular country

Example of Prejudice: SocialStudiesDefinitions

  • former PR sent his luxury car to car workshop ⇒ he and his son had to travel by MRT
  • he posted a photograph of his son on the MRT on social media ⇒ captioned “daddy where is your care and who are all these poor people”
  • later put up a post on social media of his son in his repaired car
  • people who saw his posts were outraged. tried to apologize but they were deemed insincere
  • result of intense public criticism ⇒ he was fired.
  • later left Singapore with his family.

Discrimination

Prejudice can lead to discrimination

  • when a person is prejudiced against specific group of people, he or she may act on his prejudiced beliefs and negative feelings by hurting or excluding that group. known as discrimination. SocialStudiesDefinitions
  • Feelings of prejudice and acts of discrimination ⇒ because of someones race or ethnic group ⇒ known as racism. SocialStudiesDefinitions Racism can be displayed by an individual, community or institution.

Example of Discrimination: SocialStudiesExamples

  • nurse had been on good terms with neighbors for 6 years
  • changed in 2021 during COVID 19 pandemic ⇒ neighbors learnt that nurse and his wife were frontline workers
  • neighbors harassed them ⇒ called them a virus before proceeding to spray daughters face with disinfectant, and poured disinfectant at their doorway. parents were also verbally abused
  • Neighbors charged and pleaded guilty to their actions.

Impact of Stereotypes, Prejudice, Discrimination

  • resentment and strained relationships among groups.

Episodes of prejudice and discriminations, both through words and actions ⇒ can cause hurt and unnecessary suffering. Critical to promote open-mindedness, sensitivity towards feeling of others, respect and mutual understanding among various groups in society

Another random example: SocialStudiesExamples

  • 17 year old blogger was arrested for making insensitive remarks about Christianity in a video posted online
  • at least 20 police reports were lodged against him
  • 2016 ⇒ he was fined and jailed again for repeatedly and deliberately using offensive and insulting words + profane gestures to hurt feelings of Christians and Muslims

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