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Who created the nursery rhyme that goes: "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me?" How many of us can say from experience, "Rubbish!"
For some of us, we do not have to pick up the newspaper or switch on the TV to find out how intolerant and selfish we seem to be becoming, despite the economic advances that societies around the world have made. We all want to be accepted as who we are, not as a copy of who we are not. The clever use of words or actions known only to the victim can sow seeds of rejection (which can turn outwards as anger or inwards as a form of depression), making the victim of those deeds feel inferior, and the perpetrator more narrow-minded.
Prophet Muhammad said, "Whosoever of you see an evil action, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith" (An-Nawawi#34).
Below is an activity for parents/guardians can do jointly with their child(ren) /pupils.
-Editor
The Game – Situation Prejudice
The aim is to look at a series of situations. Each situation portrays an everyday scenario. Each situation should be identified using the vocabulary provided.
Step One:
To Identify the act involved and to recognize how it harms the people in the situation.
Step Two:
When all are satisfied with one's response to the first situation, go to the next situation.
Vocabulary to Be Used:
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Stereotype - A mental image of a group based on opinion without regard to individual differences.
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Prejudice - A negative judgment or opinion formed about a group without knowledge of the facts.
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Assumptions - Conclusions based on limited knowledge of the facts.
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Discrimination - Treating people in a less favorable way because they are members of a particular group. Discrimination is prejudice in action.
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Scapegoating - Holding one person or group responsible for all the community's problems. Isolating or rejecting a person or group.
Prejudice Situation Cards
- Steven was hit in the eye with a softball, and to everyones' surprise, he started to cry. The other guys then started to snicker. Jorge felt bad for him, but laughed along with the other guys.
- Some Latin-American students asked Shirley to join their group to do a math project. She thought that because their English wasn't good so they couldn't be very smart. She joined another group. Their group got an A. Shirley's didn't.
- Dina fell on the sidewalk. Her ankle really hurt. A black woman stopped to help her up. "I'm a doctor," she said. "Sit on this bench and let me look at that." Denise didn't trust the woman and said, "No thanks. I'm fine." She limped away.
- Jamal's family doesn't have much money and he lives in a different neighborhood from Sean's. When Jamal invited Sean to a birthday party, Sean assumed the house would be messy and dirty. He didn't go, and everyone told him later how nice the house was and how good the food was.
- Tyrell missed the bus and needed a ride to school. Ms. Gomez, who is 82 years old, offered him a ride. Tyrell refused, thinking she'd drive off the road. He killed his feet walking the four miles to school, it started to rain, and he ended up being late.
- Arnie's younger sister keeps calling her friend a "wild Indian." She shoots him again and again with a toy gun. Arnie is bothered by this name-calling, but he doesn't say anything.
- Karen is having trouble in math class. She keeps going for extra help, but her grades are not improving. The teacher tells her it's okay because girls don't do well at math.
- It is Shahinda's turn in the queue for school dinners. The person serving looks past her as if she is not there and asks Melanie what she would like to eat.
- The school day has ended, and Jamila is waiting at the school gate for her father to pick her up. As a group of boys make their way to the gate, they notice her. As they walk past, one boy knocks her bag off her shoulder and another spits at her.
Step Three: Discussion
Begin the discussion sharing ones response to one of the situations.
- What are some of the ways people in these situations "lost" as a result of stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, or scapegoating?
- What are some ways the people who did the stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, or scapegoating "lost"?
- What kinds of conflicts do these situations represent? How would you classify them?
- What is the role of stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, or scapegoating in the conflicts — is it the cause of the conflict or an escalator?
- Can you think of other examples where people have lost out because of stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, or scapegoating - either as victims or perpetrators?
- How do you think the people in these situations learned stereotypes or prejudices?
- Have you ever been the victim of stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, or scapegoating?
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