LESSON 8: STEREOTYPES,

PREJUDICES AND
DISCRIMINATION

➢ Stereotypes
➢ Prejudice
➢ Discrimination
➢ Freedom and Equality

Learning outcomes:
• differentiate stereotypes, prejudice, and
discrimination; and
• understand the manifestations of stereotypes,
prejudice, and discrimination on gender

Topic Discussion:

Introduction

There are 7-7 billion people across 195 countries and every race has their own belief systems,
religion, culture, and tradition. Yet, each individual is a unique mix oftheir own. That is why appreciating
diversity is very important to fully understand the human experience and for us to coexist peacefully.

However, understanding diversity requires us to broaden our appreciation of the many facets of the
human race and recognize that we have our own stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination too.

Stereotypes

Stereotypes are an "over-generalized belief about a particular group or class of people"(Cardwell

1996). It can be helpful in simplifying things, after all, there 7-7 billion people in the planet. When we meet
someone for the first time, we associate with them certain characteristics and abilities that we usually base
on the group they belong to.

While some stereotypes convey positive examples (like a student from Ivy League schools would
be stereotyped as very intelligent or matalino, or Filipinos being known for our hospitality), most
stereotypes, however, are drawn from negative generalizations like equating our Muslim countrymen as
terrorists and viewing farmers and blue-collar workers as lazy and less educated.

It reflects our expectations and beliefs and is largely based on the social circle we belong to as we try to
conform or agree to the standard way of thought. However, these stereotypes change through time
depending on social and political conditions.

A stereotype can be categorized as "explicit", meaning the person is aware that they have these
thoughts towards a group of people and they can say it out loud. It can also be "implicit" wherein a person
does not know if they have these stereotypes since it lies in their subconscious, When the stereotype is
explicit, a person can choose not to turn their stereotypes into actions. While with an implicit stereotype, a
person has no control or awareness of it, and it may manifest into actions or behavior.
Prejudice

Prejudice is an "unjustified or incorrect attitude (usually negative) towards an individual based

solely on the individual's membership of a social group" (McLeod 2008). Prejudice represents our
emotional response upon learning of a persons' membership to a specific group (like age, skin color, race,
disability, generation, nationality, religion, sex, Sexual expression, gender expression, and so on).

This negative attitude (prejudice) can be dangerous since it often leads to negative actions and
behaviors. For example, a sexist person is someone who has negative attitude towards the other sex and
sees them as the lesser sex. This negative attitude could manifest into action such as bullying,
discrimination, or violence.

Discrimination

Discrimination refers to actions or behaviors towards an individual or a group of people. According

to the United Nations, "discriminatory behaviors take many forms, but they all involve some form of
exclusion or rejection”.

People who are discriminated on are treated worse than the way people are usually treated just
because they belong to a certain group or they have certain characteristics. Here are a few examples of
discrimination:

• genocide is the action of recognizing someone as different so much that they are treated
inhumanly and degraded.
• apartheid (means separateness) is a form of racial discrimination wherein one race is viewed
as less than the other, resulting in the separation of black and whites and the mass murder of
Jews in concentration camps.

• gender discrimination is another common form of discrimination. Statistically, women earn less
than men and are often relegated to be solely responsible for child-rearing and house chores.
Men, on the other hand, are discriminated in household responsibilities such that they are
perceived as less manly when they do their share of house chores or when they become stay
at home husbands.

• LGBT discrimination happens when LGBT people are treated as lesser than straight people.
Discrimination happens early in their childhood as they get bullied when they act differently or
dress differently than other kids. During adolescence, they get judged, bullied, or physically
assaulted as they explore and express their sexuality.

Restricting opportunities or privileges that may be available to other groups is discrimination, like the right
to vote in national elections. In the Philippines, women only gained the right to vote in 1937 and before that,
Filipino women had no legal rights even to own properties. That form of institutional discrimination was
based on illogical or irrational judgement that women are weaker than men.

FREEDOM AND EQUALITY

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that "all human beings
are born free and equal in dignity and rights." This declaration was drafted by member c ountries of
the United Nations, including the Philippines, in 1948. This monumental document outlines the fundamental
rights of every human being that should be protected by everyone at all times.
 Its preamble recognizes that the "inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all
members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world."

While discriminatory traditions, policies, ideas, practices, and laws exist in many countries, many
have shifted towards making Opportunities and privileges accessible to everyone, In many countries,
people of the same sex can now get married and create their own families while enjoying the same rights
as Straight couples. In the Philippines, all establishments are now required by law to have an access ramp
for people with disabilities.

Appreciating diversity of the human race is key to making a safer and more inclusive environment for
everyone, regardless of race, sex, religion, sexuality, gender, or creed.