In: Psychology
Discussion question: What are some common minority-group responses to prejudice and discrimination?
When a person who belongs to a minority group faces discrimination, he/she has 3 common responses to the discrimination:
1. Avoidance
Avoidance essentially means tolerance for the situation. This is a common response to discrimination, adopted by people who do not wish to indulge in difficult political/social situations. This response includes ignoring the actions of the party, and choosing to live without paying any attention to the situation. Although this methodology does not lead to any reforms, it definitely helps the individual to live a normal life amidst the crisis.
2. Acceptance
Some individual respond to discrimination through acceptance. This means that they accept the prejudice as part of their lives. The accept that the allegations of the communities are correct, and they are guilty as charged. This response is very harmful for the individual, as he accepts the discrimination and thinks of himself less than others. This can hamper the progress of an individual greatly.
3. Aggression
Aggression is anger towards the discrimination, that can lead to reform. This response includes not accepting the double standards of the society, and taking responsibility to change the situation. Such a behaviour leads to a strong wish to change the circumstances, to achieve equality among the society.