Transcript What is your definition of prejudice?

Prejudice in the U.S.
Ms. Bellen
NSJHS
What is your definition of prejudice?
• To form any preconceived opinion or feeling, either
favorable or unfavorable about another person
• Usually an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed
beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or
reason
• unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes,
especially of a hostile nature, regarding a racial,
religious, or national group
Prejudice in Literature
Name the novels, plays, or short stories that we’ve
read that showed examples of prejudice.
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The Outsiders
Speak
The Diary of Anne Frank
Flowers For Algernon
• Can you name any other stories not on this list?
How did prejudice affect the lives of these characters? How
did it impact the outcome of the story?
Examples of Prejudice
• The Outsiders - Ponyboy and the other Greasers experience
social prejudice. (ex. Court system)
• Speak - Melinda is mistreated by others because of rumors
and miscommunication.
• Diary of Anne Frank – Anne, her family, and millions of others
face intolerance and ethnic cleansing by Hitler and the Nazi
party.
• Flowers for Algernon - Charlie is treated unfairly, called
names, and made fun of by his co-workers and by society
because of his limited intellectual abilities.
• Others…
What examples of prejudice
(stereotyping) exist in society?
• People who wear glasses are
intelligent
• All African-Americans excel in sports
• Individuals with blonde hair are dumb
• People of Asian decent are excel in
math
• Athletes, such as football players or
cheerleaders are dumb
• Teenagers are lazy
Where does prejudice come from?
• It is something they learn from
their parents (grandparents,
guardians, etc.)
• Friends
• Some may apply the actions of one
individual to a group (example: all
teenagers are lazy)
• They may feel superior to others
• Other reasons
Does prejudice have to exist in
society?
How can we resolve prejudices in
society?
• We can start by using the steps of the PPA:
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Step 1: Define the Problem
Step 2: Gather the Evidence
Step 3: Identify the Causes
Step 4: Examine an Existing Policy
Step 5: Develop Policy Solutions
Step 6: Select the Best Solution
(Effectiveness vs. Feasibility)
What are ways to eliminate prejudice
in our society?
• In groups of four, try and list
ways in which we can eliminate
prejudice in our society.
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Eliminate means to abolish, to get rid of, disregard
Imagine a society without prejudice…..
• HOMEWORK:
• In your Writer’s
Notebook, please
write a one page
response about what
our society would be
like without prejudice.
• Use your imagination
and creativity!