Racial/Ethnic Prejudice and Discrimination:
Causes, Patterns and Consequences
Racial/Ethnic Prejudice and Discrimination:
Causes, Patterns and Consequences
1.
The Meaning of Prejudice, Social Distance,
and Discrimination
2.
The Vicious Cycle of P+D
3.
Causes of P+D
6. Evidence of P+D Today: At ISU, in the
USA, in the World?
4.
Patterns of P+D
7. Solutions?
5. America’s Unique “Dilemma?”
(Gunnar Myrdal)
Who is a “Timid Bigot?”
Prejudice, Social Distance,
Discrimination and Hate Crimes
Prejudice:
Literally means to prejudge another
person or group. Not always bad.
Concern with irrationally based
negative attitudes.
Social Distance: The degree of desired social intimacy
between groups.
Basic Concepts (cont’d)
Race: People who share biological traits deemed
socially significant.
May not make much sense
Extensive mixing for centuries
Ethnic Group: People who share a cultural heritage,
common language, religion, social identity.
Prejudice, Social Distance,
Discrimination and Hate Crimes
Discrimination:
Overt action that denies opportunities for
some and results in preferential treatment for
others.
Hate Crime:
State of Iowa law and Ames ordinance passed
July 1, 1990 (simple misdemeanor for Ames,
a felony offense for the state). It includes
anything done to: “Injure, oppress, intimidate,
or interfere with someone’s rights or
privileges.”
Basic Concepts (cont’d)
Minority: People distinguished by physical or cultural
traits and are socially disadvantaged.
Not just based on numbers
Minorities lack power
1
Do you know these people?
Real Name
U. S. Racial Composition
New Name
1. Cherilyn Sarhisian
1. Cher
2. Cheryl Stoppelmoor
2. Cheryl Ladd
3. Robert Allen Zimmerman
3. Bob Dylan
4. Anna May Bullock
4. Tina Turner
5. Ramon Estervez
5. Martin Sheen
1990 1998
2005
2050
White
83.9
82.6
81.3
72.8
Black
12.3
12.7
13.2
15.7
American Indian
0.8
0.9
0.9
1.1
Why did they change their names?
Racist U.S.?
THE VICIOUS CYCLE
1
1 PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
BEGIN
4
2
2 AS A RESULT OF PREJUDICE
& DISCRIMINATION A GROUP
IS SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED
3 THIS DISADVANTAGE IS
INTERPRETED AS EVIDENCE
THAT THE MINORITY GROUP IS
INFERIOR
4 THIS CREATES RENEWED
PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
3
Theories of Prejudice
1. Scapegoat Theory
(Frustrated and Disadvantaged Unfairly Blame Others.)
2. Authoritarian Personality
(Rigid and Conforming Persons, See Moral Issues as Clear-Cut.
Strongly Ethnocentric)
3. Cultural Theory: People Learn to be Prejudiced.
(Learn Desired “Social Distance” To Keep From Other People.)
4. Conflict Theory of Prejudice
(Prejudice Used To Justify Oppression of Others. Elites May
Foster It To Divide People.)
PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
PREJUDICE
DISCRIMINATION
YES
NO
BIGOT
FAIR WEATHER
LIBERAL
TIMID
BIGOT
ALL WEATHER
LIBERAL
YES
NO
Women and Blacks in U.S.: “Minorities”
 Prejudice Toward Both
 Women Actually Numeric Majority
 Parallels:
High Social Visibility
Assigned a “Place”
Originally Forms of Property
“Superstitious”
Unable to Vote
“Emotional, Not Rational”
“Inferior” Mental Endowment
2
Evidence of P + D Today:
In U.S., World-Wide, ISU?
Black Imprisonment Rates
Weekly Earnings by Race and Gender:
Hispanic Women
$337
Hispanic Men
Black Women
$390
$400
Black Men
$468
White Women
White Men
$468
$615
Total
$523
 Native Americans – greatest risk
3,109 per 100,100
South Africa
729 per 100,100
Life Expectancy at Birth
Who Is Most Likely to Be a Victim
of Violent Crime?
Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans
USA
Whites
75.2 years
African Americans
69.2 years
Evidence cont’d.
•
Univ. of Wisconsin “diversity” photo disaster is
comparable to:
•
Ford Motor Co. of England “Faces at Ford”
blunder

Is the Univ. racist? Is Ford?
 Black-White – victim rates narrowing
 Whites – 82.2% of victims, 84.2% of population
 Blacks – 14.7% victims, 12.1% of population
SOCIAL DISTANCE SCALE,
SPRING 1999
RESPONSE CATEGORIES
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
CLOSE KINSHIP BY MARRIAGE
VERY GOOD FRIENDS
AS MY NEIGHBORS
SAME WORK GROUP
SPEAKING ACQUAINTANCE ONLY
AS VISITORS TO MY COUNTRY
EXCLUDE FROM MY COUNTRY
“MINORITY GROUP”
SCORE
EXCLUDE
ITALIANS
2.32
2%
JEWS
CANADIANS
TURKS
AFRICAN AMERICANS
CHINESE
GERMANS
HOMOSEXUALS
ARABS
RUSSIANS
AMERICAN INDIANS
LAOTIANS
ANGLO AMERICANS
2.52
2.18
3.05
2.31
2.88
2.20
4.11
3.37
2.75
2.46
2.96
2.07
1%
1%
2%
2%
4%
1%
21%
9%
3%
1%
5%
1%
3
CHANGE IN PREJUDICE
CHANGE IN PREJUDICE
3.5
6
3
5
2.5
2
1975
1984
1999
1.5
1
4
1975
1984
1999
3
2
1
0.5
0
0
ITALIANS
AFRICAN
AMERICANS
JEWS
CHINESE
TURKS
RUSSIANS
ARABS
HOMOSEXUALS
Are We All Prejudiced?
GENDER
3.5
3
2.5
Stereotypes
1. Muslim religion
supports terrorism
Believed by
Hispanics
Whites
2. Catholics too controlled
by church
Asian Americans 57%
Blacks
49%
3. Hispanics have too
many children
Asian Americans 68%
Whites
50%
48%
41%
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
MALE
FEMALE
Are We All Prejudiced? (cont’d)
Solutions?
Stereotypes
4. Blacks want to live
on welfare
Believed by
Asian Americans 31%
Hispanics
26%
 How to react if your child uses racist language?
5. Jews choose money
over people
Blacks
Hispanics
54%
43%
 How to react if your child is subject to racist abuse?
6. Asian-Americans are
crafty and devious
Hispanics
Blacks
46%
41%
 Strategies for communities, organizations, societies?
Harris poll for NCCJ, 1994
4
Social Strategy to Reduce Desired
Social Distance
Solutions?
Solutions have roots based in conflict or functional theory:
Conflict
Functionalism
Hate crime legislation
Job creation/education
Forced school busing
Promote positive social
interaction
Affirmative action
Promote diversity
ABA call for ban on
death penalty
Parents teach tolerance
Influence of Previous Contacts on Desired Social Distance
Negative
Not
Close
Close
Positive
Second
most
Third
most
Most S.D.
desired
Least
Which is most favored?
Parents’ Strategy to Reduce Prejudice


Stereotyping may be one of first “skills”
children learn, age 4-5.
Be prejudiced by age of 7.
Parent’s Strategy to Reduce Prejudice (cont’d)
1.
Don’t tolerate ethnic jokes, slurs
2.
Use books, TV, news as tools
3.
Answer questions directly, e.g. why dark skin?
(Melanin in skin)
4.
Provide interaction opportunities
5.
Check your own prejudices
(Mayo Clinic, February 2000)

Stereotyping may be one of first “skills”
children learn, age 4-5.

Be prejudiced by age of 7.
5