In our lessons on this subject, we have learned that there are three important words which are quite firmly linked together. They are stereotype, prejudice and discrimination.

Stereotype

This is a fixed picture, which we tend to have of people from a particular group. It is an inflexible way of looking at people.

Prejudice

It is an opinion which people hold based on a stereotype image. It is judging the person before you know anything about him or her. Thus it is a pre-judgement, or, prejudice.

Discrimination

In this context, it consists of actions towards someone on the basis of prejudice - either favourably or unfavourably.

Examples of stereotyping would include:

• Gender stereotypes - e.g. all women are bad drivers; all men are beer-swilling slobs
• National stereotypes - e.g. the Welsh are good singers, the Scots are mean and thrifty and the Irish are... well if we got it wrong with the Welsh, what is the point of carrying on?
• Regional stereotypes - e.g. Essex girl !
• Racial stereotypes

Can you think of any others?

Prejudice is an uninformed opinion. An example might be not liking someone with a different colour skin or thinking all teenagers are lazy yobs.

Discrimination is action based on that prejudice... e.g. not giving a job to a well-qualified person because she is a woman; not including someone in a team because he or she is of a different racial origin.

In lessons following this introductory session, we shall be looking at the following ideas:

1. How do we learn to be prejudiced?
2. How can we overcome our prejudices?
3. What is the legal situation?
4. Why should it be of concern to us?

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