------------------------------------------------- Associate Program Material

Discrimination Worksheet

Write a 100- to 200-word response to each of the following questions. Provide citations for all the sources you use.

* What is discrimination? How is discrimination different from prejudice and stereotyping?

Discrimination is the denial of opportunities and equal right to individuals and groups because of prejudice or for other arbitrary reasons. People in the United States find it difficult to see discrimination as a widespread phenomenon. (Schaefer, 2012 pg.61) Discrimination is treating someone differently solely on the basis of race, color, self religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or veteran status. Examples: Ethnic slurs, racial “jokes” sexualized conduct, offensive or derogatory comments or other verbal or physical conduct. Creates a hostile or offensive work or academic environment, or interferes with the individual’s performance (George mason University, 2013)

Discrimination is different from prejudice and stereotyping in that it is focused on the behavioral part of view. Thus, when discriminating a person they may walk away from you and tend not to associate with you. Stereotyping is over generalizing statements with people with similar characteristics. For example: saying all Hispanic or Catholic women have a great amount of children. Prejudice would be having a problem with certain people, but not actual doing anything to them. For example: saying Asian women are ugly or gay men are “fairies”. Discrimination is the act of doing something harmful to certain groups of people. For example: the KKK setting a black persons house on fire or leaching them.

* What are the causes of discrimination?

Discrimination is caused by a number of reasons one of which is learned behavior. If all you seen and heard from your parents, or what you have watched on television or listened to on the radio as a child, was to be very discriminating towards other groups of people, you will probably follow the same mindset as an adult. You will continue this pattern and pass it down to the next generation that follows. Because this is all that you know. Discrimination can also be consider a social problem. It can be caused by cultural differences and