Discrimination Worksheet Essay

†¢ What is discrimination? How is discrimination different from prejudice and stereotyping? Discrimination is the denial of oppurtunities and equal rights to individuals and groups because of prejudice or for other arbitrary reasons (Schaefer, 2012). Discrimination is different from prejudice and stereotyping because discrimination is an action whereas prejudice is a belief or attitude and stereotyping is a generalization about a group of individuals (Schaefer, 2012). Both prejudice and stereotyping are ways of thinking about and classifying people into groups based on a belief or dislike of those individuals. Discrimination takes it a step further and puts those beliefs and attitudes into action by denying these groups of certain oppurtunities because of the prejudice and stereotyping. †¢ What are the causes of discrimination? Discrimination comes in many forms such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, and even disabilities. Discrimination is a learned behavior in which I believe children hear negative remarks about a group of people or individual from their parents or other influential persons and then make those judgements based upon what they grew up hearing about these individuals (Schaefer, 2012). Discrimination can also be caused from possible bad experiences with one individual that may cause another individual to now have negative feelings about this particular person because of race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability. Another cause of discrimination is institutional discrimination, which is the denial of oppurtunites and equal rights to individuals and groups that results from the normal operations of a society (Schaefer, 2012). †¢ How is discrimination faced by one identity group (race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability) the same as discrimination faced by another? How are they different? Facing discrimination is never an easy task to do. Having to face discrimination is difficult and usually the minority gets the brut force of the discrimination. The only way facing discrimination could be the same is that either group has to endure the prejudice for the actions and beliefs in which they are being discriminated about. The difference is that one identity group may receive harsher discrimination for their identity group. Race, gender, and disability may get hit harder when it comes to jobs and other oppurtunities than would ethnicity, religious groups, and sexual orientation. Certain groups have been discriminated even harsher than others and this can lead to hate crimes, such as race. Either way discrimination is a negative action and the more we can do to prevent it, the better it will be for our future.