question_answer

What strategies can be used for handling prejudice and discrimination?                                   (CBSE 2010, 2014)

Answer:

Ans.     Prejudices may not be eliminated but can be reduced. The strategies for handling prejudices would be effective if they aim at:

Minimising opportunities for learning prejudices.

Changing negative attitudes.

De-emphasising a narrow social identity based on the in-group.

Discouraging the tendency towards self-fulfilling prophecy among the victims of prejudice.

These goals can be accomplished through:

Education and exposure for correcting stereotypes relative to specific target groups.

Reducing strong in-group bias.

Increasing intergroup contact through—

— direct communication.

— Removal of mistrust between the group.

— Discovery of positive qualities in the out group.

These strategies are successful only if:

The two groups meet in a co-operative rather than competitive context.

Close interactions between the groups help them to know each other better.

Both the groups should not be different in power or status.

Highlighting individual identity rather than group identity. It is promoting individual differences and giving more credit to the individuals achievement rather than his/her group identity.