PREJUDICE, DISCRIMINATION & STEREOTYPES

In To Kill A Mockingbird

Definition of Prejudice

Derived from ‘pre-judge’ a preconceived belief, opinion, or judgment

made without ascertaining the facts of a case

the act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions

What are the possible different types of prejudice?

Usage of the word ‘Prejudice’

Used to refer to a preconceived judgment toward a group of people or a single person because of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, line of work or other personal characteristics

Usually used in a negative sense Implies fear, aversion and antipathy

(opposite of sympathy)

‘Us’ v. ‘Them’

Polarisation of two groups (eg. Whites v. Coloured’)

‘Us’ is viewed favourably, and ‘them’ viewed in negative terms

Prejudice v. Discrimination

Prejudice is an unreasonable belief or opinion about an individual or a group of people

Prejudice is internal Prejudice is not visible;

its presence is inferred from discriminatory acts

Discrimination is the unequal or unfair treatment of a person as a result of prejudice

Discrimination is external; it is an action

Discrimination is visible

Types of Discrimination

Personal / individual discrimination: directed towards an individual (eg. Treatment of Boo Radley)

Legal discrimination: refers to unequal treatment, on the grounds of group membership, that is upheld by law. (eg. The ‘Jim Crow’ Segregation Laws; Apartheid Laws in Africa)

Institutional discrimination: refers to unequal treatment that is entrenched in basic social institutions resulting in advantaging one group over another

Prejudice v. Stereotypes

Prejudices are abstract-general preconceptions / attitudes a person or group of people

Stereotypes are generalisations of existing characteristics that are overly simplistic

Stereotypes & Discrimination

Stereotypes distort our perception: once a stereotype is activated, it brings to mind the traits associated with the stereotype

When information inconsistent with the stereotype arises, there is a tendency to reject the information, or force-fit the information into the existing stereotype

Pg 164

Prejudice

Discrimination

Stereotypes

Prejudice is learned

Children acquire negative attitudes towards social groups through direct and vicarious learning

(pp. 80: ‘Why don’t you get a coloured man?’)

What are the types of prejudice or discrimination present in TKAM?

Racial Religion Social Gender

Racial

Races are distinguished from one another by such characteristics as hair color and texture, skin color, eye color and shape, size of limb and body parts, and facial organs.

Maycomb is situated in Southern USA Backwardness and narrow-mindedness of the

community fuelled racism (pg 11) Isolated – away from the river Population has been unchanged for many

decades with the same families occupying Maycomb

Prejudice towards anything that is different from the norm

Religion

Isolation of the Radleys Due to this family not attending church; they

don’t conform to other codes of behaviour Community sees church as a pastime –

reflects their inward view and narrow mindedness

Pg 15

Social

Due to snobbish and intolerant attitude towards those of a lower class

Ewells are outcasts; they lived on the outskirts of the town

Lack of dignity they display in the way they live

Can you identify textual examples of

Racism v. Racial Discrimination? Sexism v. Gender Discrimination?

Racism & Racial Discrimination

Evident from Atticus’ speech (pp. 211: ‘…the evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women…’)

The unjust verdict in Tom Robinson’s trial

Sexism & Gender Discrimination

Aunt Alexandra’s (and Maycomb society’s) perception of a lady / idea of the Southern Belle

Jem’s treatment of Scout