Stereotype, Prejudice, and Discrimination - Essay Example

Prejudice refers to our attitude or bearing towards members of a particular group; our impressions about them, and how we deal with them. It can also be negative or positive but in most cases, the former is rampant. This is manifested in different ways just like in racism, sexism, nationalism, et.al. There are no exact dates that would mark the advent of prejudice but research started in the 1920s which initially focused on the study on the superiority of whites. Albeit prejudice can be positive or negative in nature, a negative prejudice can lead to discrimination. A prejudice on race begets racial discrimination especially when someone considers his in-group as superior compared to the other. Nonetheless, a negative prejudice can gain positive stereotypes that are when a person hates another because of his race but agrees that he is smart or well-mannered. The most common examples are when women are considered less competitive in an engineering industry but are exalted because of their indomitable spirit and patience.

            Everyone can do something in order to contain the intensity of stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination, first, by attaining high education which boosts self-confidence or by contact hypothesis wherein different people are gathered together in order to familiarize themselves with each other and appreciate differences while embracing changes and unity amongst humanity.