So I've recently been reminded how offended some people can react when something or someone is called prejudice.
In some groups racism and sexism, for example, are called out in a relatively casual manner, and it's considered that you have to fail before you succeed in that you're going to be prejudice and ignorant on an issue before you're not.
In other groups calling out racism and sexism are considered quite strong attacks of character and a common method of silencing people.
I'm wondering what the difference is between these two perceptions.
I've heard it said that some people perceive prejudice in a very straightforward and even extreme manner, so being called racist for something is a comparison to the KKK, or being called sexist is a comparison to a serial wife-beater, and thus it's seen as a pretty big personal accusation.
A similar perception of prejudice is as a straightforward easy-to-spot bias, like thinking women won't be able to understand computers very well, or men won't make very good carers.
Others associate those same terms with more nuanced mishaps in thinking, and that racism and sexism are often hard to spot until analysis is done, and so heuristics are used which can seem quite crude but may be needed to spot prejudice in real time.
Finally I just want to note that prejudice which isn't politically charged, like those regarding height, tone of voice and mannerisms are often good comparisons, but I didn't want to open with them for motivation's sake.
In some groups racism and sexism, for example, are called out in a relatively casual manner, and it's considered that you have to fail before you succeed in that you're going to be prejudice and ignorant on an issue before you're not.
In other groups calling out racism and sexism are considered quite strong attacks of character and a common method of silencing people.
I'm wondering what the difference is between these two perceptions.
I've heard it said that some people perceive prejudice in a very straightforward and even extreme manner, so being called racist for something is a comparison to the KKK, or being called sexist is a comparison to a serial wife-beater, and thus it's seen as a pretty big personal accusation.
A similar perception of prejudice is as a straightforward easy-to-spot bias, like thinking women won't be able to understand computers very well, or men won't make very good carers.
Others associate those same terms with more nuanced mishaps in thinking, and that racism and sexism are often hard to spot until analysis is done, and so heuristics are used which can seem quite crude but may be needed to spot prejudice in real time.
Finally I just want to note that prejudice which isn't politically charged, like those regarding height, tone of voice and mannerisms are often good comparisons, but I didn't want to open with them for motivation's sake.