SOCY 101 Tools of Oppression

Stereotypes

Assumptions (pictures in our heads), exaggerated or distorted generalization

Stereotype example

Vegetarians are positive-minded people

Prejudice

Attitudes (feelings)

• whether you like or dislike a group of people

Explicit Prejudice

Conscious level, are deliberately formed and are easy to self-report

Implicit Prejudice

Unconscious level, are involuntarily formed and are typically unknown to us

Prejudice example

Vegetarians are good people, Non-vegetarians are bad people

Discrimination

Behavior, practice, policy

• using negative words or phrases in reference to a particular group

• placing limits on opportunities based on group membership

• engaging in violent acts against an individual or member of a racial group

Individual Discrimination example

I only hire vegetarian chefs and avoid hiring non-vegetarian chefs

Institutional Discrimination example

Walmart only hiring vegetarian chefs and avoid hiring non-vegetarian chefs

Discrimination example

• neglect

• deliberately choosing not to sit with a certain group of people

Order of Tools of Oppression

Stereotypes —> Prejudice —> Discrimination

Institutionalized racism

built into social institutions (laws, policies, practices) and results in unequal access to resources and opportunities for different racial groups

Personally mediated racism

Prejudice and discrimination between individuals

Internalized racism

accepting negative messages about one’s own abilities or worth

Intergroup racism

Perpetuated by members of a different ethnic group

Intragroup racism

Perpetuated by members of the same ethnic group

Why does racism occur? (psychological perspective)

Posit racism is expression of personality disorders

• overlooks context that shapes underlying racist beliefs and behaviors

Why does racism occur? (sociological perspective)

Suggest people are socialized into racism

• considers types of situations where norms encourage racist beliefs and behavior

Reverse Racism/Discrimination

Affirmative actions and similar color-conscious programs for redressing racial inequality

Eduardo Bonilla-Silva’s Components of Color-Blind Racism

• Abstract liberalism: equality of opportunity, freedom of choice

• Naturalization: natural, normal

• Cultural racism: culturally based explanations

• Minimization of racism: “racism rarely happens”

• Rhetorical strategies: ways of expressing ideas to justify racism

Merton’s 4 Types of Discriminators

• Active bigot

• Timid bigot

• All-weather liberal

• Fair-weather liberal

Active Bigot

engages in prejudice and discrimination

Timid Bigot

engages in prejudice but not discrimination

All-Weather Liberal

does not engage prejudice nor discrimination

Fair-Weather Liberal

engages in discrimination but not prejudice