Discrimination Worksheet

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

• treating people differently through prejudice: unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, ethnicity, age, religion, or gender

• ability to notice and value quality: the ability to appreciate good quality or taste. (http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+discrimination&qpvt=What+is+discrimination&FORM=DTPDIA)

A prejudiced person may not act on their attitude. Therefore, someone can be prejudiced towards a certain group but not discriminate against them. (http://www.simplypsychology.org/prejudice.html)

• What are the causes of discrimination? Discrimination is caused by a number of reasons, one of which is learned behavior. If you grew up seeing discrimination practiced by your parents, you will probably folllow the same mind-set. Then again once you get older you have your own way of thinking also because I am not one to discriminate against what my parents discriminated against.

• We can also discriminate by nature, for good and for bad. If we see a professor we think that they are smart. If we see a group of people down a dark alley we take a different path scared that they will do something just because of what we have heard. In today's politically correct world people tell us that we are wrong to follow our instincts so we can be fair.

• How is discrimination faced by one identity group (race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability) the same as discrimination faced by another? How are they different?

• Most discrimination is based on something an individual cannot control, such as race, sexual orientation, or age. However, many of those who discriminate against sexual orientation argue that it's a choice (even though it isn't).