Examples of Prejudice in History and Modern Times

Before you can get into examples of prejudice, it’s important to examine the difference between prejudice and discrimination.

• prejudice - idea or opinion without factual backing or evidence
• discrimination - biased treatment based on someone's race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or other characteristics

Prejudice often ends in discrimination. In essence, prejudice is a feeling and the act of discrimination is the end result. Examine various examples of prejudice so you know how to avoid it.

Prejudice is a detriment that shifts over time. Usually, prejudices are removed when someone becomes less ignorant or more informed, though, of course, that's not always the case. Here are some examples of prejudice.

When it comes to prejudice, racism is a big one. Racism is having specific notions or thoughts about a person because of their specific race. Explore examples of racism throughout history.

• After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, any person of Japanese descent living in America was considered a suspect. As prejudice against them grew, simply because they had a genetic link to an enemy country, it led to discrimination as President Roosevelt had them rounded up and held in internment camps.
• During apartheid in South Africa non-whites were viewed as "lesser than" or "inferior" to their white counterparts based on opinion.
• It is believed that Adolf Hitler came into contact with antisemitic ideas at an early age, which fueled his prejudice against Jewish people.
• The thought that a Black teen is a thug just because of the way they look or dress is prejudice.
• A boss's prejudicial thoughts about racial minorities being lazy at work can lead to discriminatory treatment.
• Some parents will not approve of their children marrying anyone of a different race. These parents may believe their ethnic or cultural background is superior to others, highlighting their ethnocentricity.

Another example of prejudiced thought is sexism where women are seen as inferior. Check out examples of sexism in action.

• In the Mad Men era, only men were seen fit for executive-level jobs, while women were mainly receptionists and secretaries. This was based on the prejudiced belief that women were better suited to life on the homefront as housewives but, if they must work, surely they weren't as competent and business-oriented as their male co-workers.
• In Afghanistan, the prejudiced interpretation of Islamic law when the Taliban was in government meant women were unable to learn or work, or even be seen unveiled by men outside their family.
• In 2020, on the whole, men make more annually than women for the same work due to bias about ability between sexes.

Sexual orientation can also lead to prejudices against same-sex couples and trans individuals. Explore examples of sexual prejudices.

• In Colorado, a same-sex couple wanted to order a cake for their wedding day. However, the baker did not accept same-sex couples because of personal bias. This lead to his discriminating against the couple by refusing to bake their cake.
• A person acting negatively towards two men holding hands on the street because of their belief that only opposite sexes should marry.
• Some parents will not approve of their children marrying someone of the same gender because they believe it is wrong.
• An individual refusing to call a trans individual based on their preferred pronoun because of their beliefs on sexuality and the existence of only the sex you were born with.

Thinking specific thoughts about the elderly being slow or not as fit as a younger individual is prejudice called ageism. See a few examples of ageism.

• A manager not giving specific tasks to workers that reach a specific "older" age because the boss has the misconception that older individuals can’t handle that work.
• Calling it a “senior moment” when you momentarily forget something.
• Making retirement mandatory or strongly encouraged at a specific age based on the prejudice that people of that age won't be as productive or able to do their jobs.

Ableism is the thought that people with disabilities are inferior to those with typical abilities. Check out what ableism prejudice looks like.

• In the 1800s, individuals with disabilities were thought of as "lesser" or "inferior" to those with standard abilities.
• Using a different voice to talk to a disabled person or talking about them rather than to them because you believe they can't understand you.
• Thinking that disabilities must be visible for them to be a “real disability.”

There's only one time when prejudice is beneficial. When you're trying to create conflict in a plot. Otherwise, it has no place in modern society. Alas, a good dose of prejudice creates tension between characters. You have the bigoted character on the one hand. And, you have the oppressed character on the other (who's going to rise above the challenge). It creates a certain amount of tension or conflict which, in the end, leads to resolution. Let's explore some famous examples of prejudice in our favorite movies and books.

In the movie Crash, Jean doesn't want her husband to hire a certain person because of the way he dresses. She assumes he is violent or uses drugs, but he actually turns out to be respectable.

Disney's Zootopia takes on prejudice in two forms, possibly three. The main character, Judy Hopps, is a tiny, female bunny who didn't grow up in the big city. As such, when she joins a police force dominated by large, powerful male characters (of varying animal species) who are "street smart," no one thinks she's good for anything other than a lowly position as a meter maid.

In the movie, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, a black doctor engaged to a white woman meets her parents, and although the parents consider themselves to be liberal, they have a hard time approving this union. What makes this movie particularly poignant is that it was released a mere six months after the ban on interracial marriage was lifted in America.

In the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, there are social class prejudices. The main example is Darcy, who didn't consider Elizabeth as a suitable wife because of her lower social status. Jane Austen wrote the first draft of Pride and Prejudice in 1793. During this time, a man who was well-educated and grew up immersed in refineries would never consider marrying a woman who grew up in a lower-income household. He'd consider her unworthy and even unable to function in his high society hemisphere.

In Nora Roberts' Guardians Trilogy, Annika Waters is a congenial mermaid simply overflowing with joy. She joins a clan of five other men and women who must defeat a dark goddess and her minions. One of the men is a seasoned warrior; the immortal Doyle McCleary is over three hundred years old. He's lived through an endless array of battles and skirmishes. As such, he thinks a pretty, bubbly mermaid has no place in battle. Turns out, Annika has moves akin to Black Widow and can kick Doyle's butt six ways to Sunday.

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson becomes a scapegoat for a crime he didn't commit simply because he's African American. He lived in a fictional town in Alabama in 1933 when racism was rampant and lynching still occurred with regularity. Since Tom was Black, the whole community assumed he possessed a greater propensity for crime. Luckily, Atticus Finch decides to defend him in an attempt to prove his innocence and overall good nature.

Prejudice thoughts are all over the world in movies and real life. As you can see, a healthy dose of prejudice can thicken a plot. But it can quickly lead to discrimination in the real world. To learn more about prejudice, be sure to check out stereotype examples as well as further examples of bias.