Unit 4 Discussion: Prejudice? There are a number of examples where a person’s race, sex, ethnic background, or sexual orientation can lead to different treatment. This may suggest prejudice and discrimination. But is differential treatment sometimes justified? Pick at least two of the following examples and for each one, indicate whether you think it is justified or does it indicate prejudice? Explain your thinking. 1. A clerk at the clothing store pays closer attention to younger shoppers because they are thought to be more likely to shoplift. 2. Airport security personnel give more careful attention to Arab travelers because they fit the “terrorist profile”. 3. Police patrol minority neighborhoods more heavily because they believe the crime rate is higher. 4. A white family is reluctant to buy a house in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood because they believe that the neighborhood will not be quiet and well-maintained. 5. A new Black employee thinks that the White employees will be racist and is reluctant to freely discuss his or her feelings with them. 6. A person will only date people of his or her race. 7. A person is opposed to legalizing gay marriage. 8. A male firefighter does not want to work with women because he thinks they are not strong enough and tough enough to depend on in emergency situations. 9. A politician wants to require that most official business be conducted in English. He thinks it is an immigrant’s responsibility to learn English and considers it a waste of money to translate forms into multiple languages and to provide translators. Prejudice is a negative attitude about a distinguishable category of people solely because of their membership in that category (such as race, sex, religion, sexual orientation). Discrimination is a negative action toward a person because of his or her membership in that category. Does reacting to people differently based on membership n a category always represent prejudice and discrimination?
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