Does fear of the other or outsider cause prejudice?

Question

Or do you think it is the social values we get from education and government influences as well as the media?

Answer 1

I feel there are two reasons prejudice will always be with us in one form or another.

Feeling superior.
This was said to me (by someone who never could hold down a job or make ends meet) when I asked if he could afford the rent where he was moving.
"What do you think? I'm not like those muchachos from the other side of the tracks who doesn't even TRY to pay their bills!"
translation; I may be a loser but I'm not as a big of a loser as THOSE people!

Shortcut
I takes a while to know who is honest & who isn't, who is a hard worker & who isn't, etc.
Prejudice allows people to think they can look at someone & have a short cut to knowing those important things.


I suspect a lot of the prejudice blacks face today isn't racism in the strict sense. It's not prejudice against the race, as much as the culture. In other words, "it's OK to be black as long as you walk, talk & act white." It's still prejudice.

Example: A black with a strong black dilect will be treated very differently from one who talks "white."
(I'm not talking about bad grammer, just different phonetics.)

I think of Jeff Foxworthy's joke "People hear this accent & want to automatically deduct 20 IQ points." How many IQ points do you think get deducted from someone with a black dialect?

Answer 2

yes,but mostly it is not fear,but ignorance.

Example:Athletes such as at the local level may have a large caption concerning athletic scholarship,when in reality they were only given an opportunity to participate in the program,and the funding for theirs is not always cut and dry when they commit to the school,and..the position is not always available,either.
My son had this happen.2 years at a private college and he played one game,on the sidelines,then decided it was a sham,it was..Mom and Dad helped for cost of this school,then he switched.The media was playing up for the coaches.Parents beware when you can't seem to ever get in touch with the busy coach,he is busy recruiting in other countries for his players,because they seem to bring in the dollars.I am not venting,just trying to help readers give thought to a headline that seems too easy to believe.I learned athletes have to look out for themselves or it could be very costly.They are not always the player,but have been played.

Answer 3

yes but your friends and family influence it more than education and government.education influences it more by what isn't taught than what is.