Question

Indicate whether it is justified or does it indicate prejudice and explain

l. A clerk at the clothing store pays closer attention to younger shoppers because they are thought to be more likely to shoplift. 2. Airport security personnel give more careful attention to Arab travelers because they fit the "terrorist profile". 3. Police patrol minority neighborhoods more heavily because they believe the crime rate is higher. 4. A white family is reluctant to buy a house in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood because they believe that the neighborhood will not be quiet and well-maintained. 5. A new Black employee thinks that the White employees will be racist and is reluctant to freely discuss his or her feelings with them. 6. A person will only date people of his or her race. 7. A person is opposed to legalizing gay marriage. 8. A male firefighter does not want to work with women because he thinks they are not strong enough and tough enough to depend on in emergency situations. 9. A politician wants to require that most official business be conducted in English. He thinks it is an immigrant's responsibility to learn English and considers it a waste of money to translate forms into multiple languages and to provide translators.

Answer 1

1. It is a prejudice since the shoplifters could be from any age group. Prejudice is anything that is a preconceived notion, not based on actual experience. Therefore, this makes it a prejudice. No actual experience may have supported the statement, yet the a general assumption is made on the basis of which discriminated perspective is developed.

2. This may not have been a prejudice per se. Actual evidence may have supported the argument and although it is discrimination in many ways, it is not prejudice since it has a foundation to itself in the form of past history.

3. This is described as a belief system of the police. This means that it may not be based on real experiences. Therefore, this is a prejudice against the minority societies.

4. This is indeed a prejudice and a belief system developed on little or no experience and merely on assumptions.

5. This is indeed a prejudice as there is little evidence to support the argument. It may have been based on a general assumption and also a stereotyped perspective.

6. This may be a matter of choice and not necessarily a prejudice.

7. This may be a prejudice against the LGBT group.

8. This is a prejudice and may also be a stereotyped perspective which tends to look at women as the weaker sex.

9. This is not an example of prejudice. It is an attempt to problem solving and maximizing resourcefulness.