Bigotry
Bigotry refers to an unreasonable and stubborn attachment to one's own beliefs, resulting in intolerance toward those who hold differing views. This mindset can manifest in hostility against various groups based on factors such as race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Bigots often engage in stereotyping and overgeneralization, which stem from a lack of critical thinking and an unwillingness to accept new information that contradicts their preconceived notions. They may hold sweeping generalizations, such as believing that all members of a specific group share negative traits, despite evidence to the contrary. Bigotry is not limited to any single issue; it can also extend to biases based on physical appearance or other characteristics. Furthermore, bigoted attitudes are frequently learned through social and cultural influences, including family upbringing and media exposure. While changing these entrenched beliefs can be challenging due to emotional rigidity, strategies such as education, positive social interaction, and empathy can promote understanding and reduce bigotry.
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Bigotry
Bigotry is the obstinate and unreasonable attachment to one’s own opinions or beliefs. Bigots are intolerant of beliefs that oppose their own. Often, such people are very emotional and may become stubbornly intolerant or even hostile toward others who differ with them regarding religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or other issues. This state of mind encourages stereotyping, overgeneralization, and other errors that suggest the absence of critical thinking.
Bigoted attitudes can be culturally transmitted as part of the education of children or adults. Social experiences, such as family and community upbringing, and environmental factors, such as the media and social norms, play a role. Bigotry is a learned prejudice that is founded on inaccurate and inflexible overgeneralizations. Bigots may believe, for example, that “all blacks are thieves,” even though they have no experience on which to base this belief. Even if they know a very honest Black American individual, they will state that this person is the exception to the rule or has yet to reveal their character. When confronted with new information that contradicts their beliefs, bigots are unwilling to change, but they instead perceive the contradictory evidence as exceptional and may become excited and emotional.
Bigotry is not confined to race. Some bigots dislike individuals due to their religion, gender, sexual orientation, or physical appearance. A bigot could dislike someone because they are overweight or have red hair. Bigots discriminate against these populations without cause. However, bigotry, being a learned behavior, is not immutable but can be ameliorated through social policy. It is often difficult for bigots to change their minds because they are highly emotional and cognitively rigid. However, education, fostering positive interactions, and teaching empathy can be effective strategies.
Bibliography
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Bronner, Stephen Eric. The Bigot: Why Prejudice Persists. Yale UP, 2014.
Burkeman, Oliver. "Do Bigots Just Lack Imagination?" The Guardian, 28 Apr. 2017, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/apr/28/do-bigots-lack-imagination-refugees-empathy-language-oliver-burkeman. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Carpenter, Siri. "Buried Prejudice: The Bigot in Your Brain." Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2008, www.scientificamerican.com/article/buried-prejudice-the-bigot-in-your-brain. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Gay, Kathlyn. Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide. Scarecrow, 2013.
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May, Gary. Bending toward Justice: The Voting Rights Act and the Transformation of American Democracy. Basic, 2013.
Oliver, Tom. "Is Racism and Bigotry in our DNA?" The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2020, theconversation.com/is-racism-and-bigotry-in-our-dna-135096. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.