Does constantly reminding our youth about racism or sexism perpetuate the problem?

Question

Does telling someone that they are oppressed at a young age make them become so?

Answer 1

if you tell someone something long enough, they will believe it. you bring up a good point.
it's like telling a skinny girl she is fat to destroy her self image. if she hears it enough, even though she sees her skinny self in the mirror she will believe she is fat.

Answer 2

Very difficult to teach standards and acceptable culture to children without it being very obvious that not everyone subscribes to your idea of what is correct and appropriate.

If you don't teach your children what is inappropriate, and they see those actions, speech, styles of dress, music, religion in others, how are they supposed to learn what your family and culture consider "the norm".

It is the parents responsibility to teach right and wrong. When large groups of particular racial or social groups act inappropriately, the normal human reaction will be to stereotype them; then the child will be labeled racist. It is a lose-lose battle; or we can just continue the dumbing down of each of our cultures,

Answer 3

For your first question, it needs to be spoken about often.

For your second question, you are probably right. If a parent constantly describes the world in a certain way, the child will no doubt grow up with that information as a core belief.

Answer 4

I believe so, exactly. I've met a lot of people of minority status who see themselves as very anti-racism, but they are racist against whites, because they are mad about all the percieved discrimination they recieve, real or imagined. They stereotype whites as being racist toward minorities, and they pass these stereotypes and the mindset of victimhood on to their children. I think as long as we keep up the racism witchhunt, we will keep it smoldering on both sides.

Answer 5

Prejudice will always exist do to the haves and the have nots. Children will grow to see that as a result of their lives consequences.

Answer 6

yup it does.... the only way to move forward is to move forward. reminding us doesnt do any good