Discrimination and Racism Why Do They Exist

Discrimination and Racism

Dovidio, J.F., & Gaertner, S.L. (2002). Prejudice, discrimination, and racism. New York: Academic Press.

Research carried out shows that racism and discrimination exists and they will continue to exist given that human beings are the one on universe and there happens to be nothing that is more common than feeling the remarkable needs of human beings unless the needs of people are hold, therefore, some individuals will always try to bring one another down. The author depicts racism and discrimination as a thing that will forever exist because there happens to be an "us" and a "them" that makes human beings to be always suspicion of the unknown groups who are outside of one's own.

The source indicates that discrimination is an act of treating someone in a way which is not favorable because of some personal inalienable characteristics that are governed by the law. Discrimination can be in the form of bullying a person because of the protected characteristics. Racism is the action of individuals, groups and the institutions subordinating other groups because of the color of the skin and can be the physical traits that are associated with those groups. Racism today is depicted to negatively impact the lives of many Americans as it was identified within the Blacks, Hispanics, Asians as well as, in Native Americans. Racism mostly occurs when there is a reaction to dominate the groups or an individual leading to prejudice and discrimination.

Reasons why Discrimination and Racism exists

Wang, L. (2006). Discrimination by default: how racism becomes routine. New York: New York

University Press. Retrieved September 11, 2012, from http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=pqivx6KE7ZUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=racism

The source depicts racism to be a product of prejudice. Prejudice is a preconceived judgment which is based on the limited information. For example if one has a prejudice attitude as well as opinions, it sometimes affects their own decisions and actions therefore creating racisms. Prejudice is developed by the omissions, distortions and stereotyping. A study shows that prejudice is an inescapable consequences resulting to racism in the society.

Secondly the author indicates that discrimination and Racism exists because of fear. People are fearful as well as not willing to unlock their chains of racial ignorance, hatred and bigotry. Because of that, they use discrimination as a tool of socializing with others. Most people fear that, they don't know because they don't understand the end results of that alien entity might be on them when they decide to change their views of others as well as accepting them making them to remain so fearful of what they don't know. It has become so difficult for the discriminated and the racist people or groups to do away with the fear factor.

Thirdly, as the source indicates, discrimination and racism still exists because today in different societies or workplaces hate, intolerance and religious indoctrination are still evidenced. Because of these, it is hard to see discrimination coming to an end. Discrimination occurs when groups' refuses to focus on a given point of the other groups seeing that all the human beings are equal in terms of the right to birth. The feeling of superiority leads to discrimination of other groups, thinking "I am better than you" furthermore "you don't deserve what I have." This is true because the groups who think so will continue to exist.