prejudice
Last updatedWhat to know
Prejudice in the context of race is an often damaging attitude directed toward people of color or oppressed people based on stereotypes. A 2016 Pew survey found that a majority of respondents considered individual prejudice to be a bigger factor in discrimination against Black people than factors built into American systems and laws. Prejudice is related to but not exactly interchangeable with bias; the former may be more extreme and more conscious.
Prejudice in media can take many forms, for instance covering the death of a white woman far more than the death of a Black woman in similar circumstances; using coded language to describe certain populations; or choosing images that reinforce stereotypes about a community. Recognizing and interrogating one’s prejudices can help counter bias in coverage. See the Language, Please editorial tools for more resources.
Additional resources
- Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others (Pepperdine University)
- Racism Defined (Dismantling Racism Works)
- Prejudice and Discrimination (Simply Psychology)
- Prejudice and Discrimination (National Institutes of Health)
- The Bias Detective (Science.org)
Summary
Prejudice in the context of race is an often damaging attitude directed toward people of color or oppressed people based on stereotypes. Prejudice in media can take many forms, for instance covering the death of a white woman far more than the death of a Black woman in similar circumstances; using coded language to describe certain populations; or choosing images that reinforce stereotypes about a community.