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