Sociology



Sociology

Introduction

The words racism, prejudice, stereotype and discrimination are frequently used interchangeably in the day to day conversation in U.S. However, when the discussion of these words from a perspective that is social it is significant that they should be defined. Racism is a kind of prejudice that includes the specific beliefs about a certain racial group. Prejudice means the feelings and thoughts about the group of people (Anon, 2012).

Stereotypes are basic ideas about these groups. However, discrimination refers to the set of actions and activities towards these people. On the other hand, the gender inequality affects deeply on the development and growth of a country. In the United States, the gender inequality is still present which makes the women of U.S. inferior and substandard in their lives as compared to men.

The gender difference in the U.S. will massively affect the economic growth and workplace of the country which can result in a massive loss (Kates, 2011). The affect on the growth and development of a country by the exclusions and restrictions imposed by the gender inequality can be easily scrutinized as it makes the growth slow and dawdling.

Discussion

Racism and Prejudice

Prejudice refers to the attitudes, thoughts, beliefs and feelings that the individuals keeps in mind about a certain group of people. A prejudice is a preconception and predisposition as it is not based on the experience. This prejudice initiates from the exterior of the tangible experience.

In addition, racism is a kind of bigotry or injustice that is practiced to rationalize that a particular category of racism is one way or another inferior or superior to other categories. The example of a racist organization is “Ku Klux Klan” and member of this organization believes in the supremacy of whites.

Discrimination

The meaning of prejudice is to think partially while the discrimination includes the actions and activities against a certain group of people. The basis of discrimination can be on religion, age, health, sex, and various other indicators. This kind of social dilemmas is strived and addressed by the antidiscrimination and race based discrimination laws.

The discrimination which is based on ethnicity or race can take various forms or structures; it can be from biased hiring method to unjust housing practices. In the history of U.S., the overt discrimination has played a lengthy part. Certain examples of discrimination in the U.S. can be observed in the late 19th century. First example is of business owners that hanged signs of vacancies heading “Help Wanted: No Irish need apply”.

The second example is of Jim Crow laws which placed signs of “Whites only” that exemplify the overt discrimination however it is not accepted in present time. According to the Sociologist Durkheim, racism is a social reality which does not need the actions of people to continue (Favreault, 2008). The main reasons for discrimination are very complicated and relate to the criminal, educational, political and economic system that exists in the society.

Prejudice and Discrimination

The prejudice and discrimination can partly cover and interconnect in several ...