HAND-OUT IN ENGLISH 9

Third Quarter

BIAS AND PREJUDICE

BIAS
A bias statement is a statement that reflects an unfair preference or prejudice
towards one person or group over another, based on factors such as race, gender, religion,
nationality, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Bias statements can be intentional
or unintentional, but they can have harmful effects on individuals or groups who are
targeted by them.
Here are some examples of bias statements:
1. "Women are not suited for leadership positions because they are too emotional." -
This statement reflects a sexist bias against women and implies that men are more rational
and better suited for leadership roles.
2. "All Muslims are terrorists." - This statement reflects a religious bias against Muslims
and stereotypes an entire group of people as violent and dangerous.
3. "Black people are lazy and don't want to work." - This statement reflects a racial bias
against Black people and perpetuates harmful stereotypes that have been used to justify
discriminatory policies and practices.
4. "Poor people are poor because they are lazy and don't work hard enough." - This
statement reflects a socioeconomic bias against people who are struggling financially and
implies that poverty is solely the result of individual shortcomings, rather than systemic
barriers and inequalities.
5. "Gay people are unnatural and immoral." - This statement reflects a bias against
people who identify as LGBTQ+ and perpetuates harmful stereotypes that have been used
to justify discrimination and violence against this group.
It's important to recognize and challenge bias statements when we hear them, in order to
create a more equitable and inclusive society.
A biased statement is a statement that shows favoritism or prejudice towards a particular
opinion, group, or individual. These statements can be intentional or unintentional and can
appear in various contexts such as media, politics, education, and everyday conversations.
Here are some examples of biased statements:
1. "All politicians are corrupt." This statement is biased because it makes a sweeping
generalization that all politicians are dishonest, without considering that there may be
honest politicians.
2. "Women are emotional and irrational." This statement is biased because it attributes
negative qualities to an entire gender, without considering that individuals within that group
may have different traits and behaviors.
3. "Only a fool would support that candidate." This statement is biased because it
implies that anyone who supports the candidate is unintelligent or foolish, without
providing any factual evidence or reasoning.
4. "People from that country are lazy and unproductive." This statement is biased
because it stereotypes an entire population, without taking into account the diversity of the
people in that country and their individual abilities.
5. "I don't trust anyone who is not of my race." This statement is biased because it
shows a preference for a specific race, without considering the individual qualities and
behaviors of the people from other races.
It's important to recognize and avoid biased statements because they can perpetuate
harmful stereotypes, discrimination, and prejudice. Instead, it's essential to strive for
fairness, objectivity, and respect towards individuals and groups, regardless of their
background or characteristics.
1. "People who are religious are close-minded and intolerant." This is a biased
statement because it makes a generalization about a group of people based on their
religious beliefs. While some people who are religious may be close-minded and intolerant,
it is unfair to make this assumption about all of them.
2. "I can't trust that person because they're from a different culture." This is a biased
statement because it assumes that people from different cultures are not trustworthy. It is
unfair to judge someone based on their cultural background.
3. "People who are overweight are lazy and don't take care of themselves." This is a
biased statement because it is based on a stereotype and is not true for all people who are
overweight. Many people who are overweight have medical conditions or genetic factors
that contribute to their weight.
4. "Men are better leaders than women." This is a biased statement because it is based
on gender discrimination and assumes that men are inherently better leaders than women.
It is unfair to judge someone's abilities based on their gender.
5. "People who support gun control are trying to take away our rights." This is a biased
statement because it is based on a political viewpoint and assumes that all people who
support gun control are trying to take away the rights of gun owners. It is unfair to make this
assumption about a group of people based on their political beliefs.
6. "All lawyers are greedy and only care about money." This is a biased statement
because it makes a generalization about a group of people based on their profession. While
some lawyers may prioritize money over their clients' well-being, it is unfair to make this
assumption about all lawyers.
7. "People who live in poverty are there because they are lazy and don't want to work."
This is a biased statement because it is based on a stereotype and is not true for all people
who live in poverty. Many people who live in poverty work multiple jobs and still struggle to
make ends meet.
PREJUDICE
Prejudice is a preconceived opinion or attitude towards an individual or group based
on certain characteristics such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual
orientation, or socioeconomic status. Prejudice involves forming judgments without factual
evidence or personal experience and can lead to discrimination and unequal treatment of
individuals or groups. Here are some examples of prejudice:
1. Racism: Believing that one race is superior to others. For example, a white person
who assumes that a black person is uneducated or dangerous solely based on their race.
2. Sexism: Believing that one gender is superior to another. For example, a man who
assumes that women are not as competent as men in certain professions or tasks.
3. Homophobia: Fear or hatred towards people who identify as LGBTQ+. For example,
someone who refuses to be friends with a person because they are gay.
4. Religious prejudice: Believing that one religion is superior to others. For example, a
person who assumes that all Muslims are terrorists based on their religious beliefs.
5. Ageism: Discrimination or prejudice towards people of a certain age group. For
example, an employer who assumes that an older candidate is not as tech-savvy as a
younger candidate.
Prejudice can have harmful effects on individuals and society as a whole, and it's important
to recognize and challenge our own prejudices in order to promote equality and inclusivity.
1. Ableism: Discrimination or prejudice towards people with disabilities. For example,
assuming that a person who uses a wheelchair is not as intelligent as someone who does
not use a wheelchair.
2. Classism: Discrimination or prejudice towards people based on their socioeconomic
status. For example, assuming that a person who is poor is lazy or uneducated.
3. Nationalism: Believing that one's own nation is superior to others. For example, a
person who believes that their country is the best and other countries are inferior.
4. Lookism: Discrimination or prejudice towards people based on their physical
appearance. For example, assuming that a person who is overweight is lazy or lacks self-
control.
5. Linguistic prejudice: Discrimination or prejudice towards people based on their
language or dialect. For example, assuming that someone who speaks with a non-standard
accent is less intelligent or educated.
Prejudice can take many forms, and it's important to be aware of our own biases and work
towards overcoming them. We can do this by educating ourselves about different cultures
and backgrounds, challenging stereotypes, and promoting inclusivity and equality in our
words and actions.