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Impact of stereotypes
Stereotypes and their effects
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As a business consultant I have been asked to suggest different methods that can possibly reduce discrimination and prejudice in the workplace. Is it possible however to make everyone get along and ignore their differences? According to the growing research on discrimination and prejudice, these are learned behaviors that with practice can be unlearned, and ultimately eliminated (Baron & Branscombe, 2012, p. 195). Discrimination is defined as the negative treatment of different groups: Prejudice, on the other hand is viewed as the negative emotions or attitudes associated with discrimination (Baron & Branscombe, 2012, p. 183). These two terms go hand in hand because they both can lead to racism; however, that is not suggesting that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between the two. Discrimination in the workplace is not limited to just one thing; in fact, it is found in many occasions such as direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimization (Phillips, 2013, p. 65). Although there are laws that protect employees and employers against discrimination such as the Equality Act (Phillips, 2013): There are still concerns of discrimination within racial, gender, and social groups, in this case, the main focus will be between Caucasians employers and Hispanics employees (Weaver, 2011, p. 2723). Stereotypes, which are beliefs or schemas of groups and members (Baron & Branscombe, 2012), arise between people one necessarily cannot identify with. By the same token, these stereotypes produce negative attitudes towards one another that can potentially lead to discrimination and prejudice (Jones, 2001).
Research shows that there’s a great disadvantage in the workplace for minorities, thus these differences lead to ra...
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...erceiving discrimination on the job: Legal consciousness,
workplace context, and the construction of race discrimination. Law & Society Review, 44(2), 269-298.
Jones, M. (2001). Stereotyping Hispanics and Whites: Perceived differences in social roles as a
determinant of ethnic stereotypes. The Journal of Social Psychology, 131(4), 469-476.
Phillips, L. (2013). Prejudice in the workplace. Retrieved from
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Ramasubramanian, S. (2010). Television viewing, racial attitudes, and policy preferences:
Exploring the role of social identity and intergroup emotions in influencing support for affirmative action. Communication Monographs, 77(1), 102-120. doi: 10.1080/03637750903514300
Weaver, C. (2011). Hispanic prejudice in the United States. Journal of Applied Social
Psychology, 41, 2723-2738.
Deitch, E. A., Barsky, A., Butz, R., Chan, S., Brief, A. P., & Bradley, J. C. (2003). Suble yet significant: The existence and impact of everyday racial discrimination in the workplace. Human Relations, 56(11), 1299-1324.
Izumi, Yutaka and Frank Hammonds. "Changing Ethnic/Racial Stereotypes: The Roles of Individuals and Groups." Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal (2007): 845-852.
Doverspike, Dennis, Mary Anne Taylor, and Winfried Arthur, Jr. Affirmative Action: A Psychological Perspective. Huntington: Nova Science Publishers, Inc, 2000.
In today’s society, the pressure to appear politically correct can play a major role in one’s social life. This pressure can even trigger people to support issues that are politically correct, such as affirmative action. Affirmative action is a highly controversial issue in the United States today, it has many supporters and it also has many detractors. This issue can separate many ethnic groups and even turn people of the same racial group against each other. There are many ideas that are thought of as a cure for racial inequality, but none fit the role better than affirmative action.
Today there is considerable disagreement in the country over Affirmative Action with the American people. MSNBC reported a record low in support for Affirmative Action with 45% in support and 45% opposing (Muller, 2013). The affirmative action programs have afforded all genders and races, exempting white males, a sense of optimism and an avenue to get the opportunities they normally would not be eligible for. This advantage includes admission in colleges or hiring preferences with public and private jobs; although Affirmative Action has never required quotas the government has initiated a benefits program for the schools and companies that elect to be diversified. The advantages that are received by the minorities’ only take into account skin color, gender, disability, etc., are what is recognized as discriminatory factors. What is viewed as racism to the majority is that there ar...
In today’s workplace, African Americans continue to be subjected to overt discrimination. This can take the form of ethnic jokes, racial slurs and exclusionary behaviors by Euro-American co-workers and managers. Even more disturbing is the verbal abuse, calculated mistreatment and even physical threats experienced by some African Americans while on the job. African Americans have also faced overt acts such as being reassigned to lower level projects, not receiving a promotion even though they were equally qualified and receiving less wages than other employees, even less qualified new hires. The discrimination can be so pervasive that African Americans feel uneasy and threatened, demotivated and disrespected, eventually feeling forced to leave to search for other employment.
Decreasing the disparity among whites and people of color eventually leads to higher productivity, stronger work ethic, and better team functioning. “Diversity enhances and affects group performance in diverse teams” (Van Dijk, et. al., 2013). As stated by researchers Winfred Arthur, Jr. and Dennis Doverspike, to have a diverse and successful working environment, employers and business leaders should work on limiting the role they play in privilege and accept more applicants from minority backgrounds (2005). According to researchers at the Texas A&M University and the University of
In our global economy requiring functional and respectful relationships between nations, prejudice and stereotypes can be a destructive force both in the world and in individual societies, especially in diverse ones.
Relations at work are almost inevitable. However, there are instances where those relations interferes with work or the generally become offensive. Defining harassment could appear somewhat simple but yet very complicated, due largely to the nature and forms it take. It was until the 1970ties before the word gained entry into mainstream literature. Harassment could be viewed as an offensive behavior that interferes with the dignity of another person. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines it as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature” In reality harassments are behaviors that upset, disturbs
Everyone will have a least one job in their lifetime, and knowing how to recognize discrimination, so they are able to seek the proper help when needed to is very important. Discrimination in the work place can happen to anyone, and that is why people need to know the laws that protect employees against discrimination, ways employers can prevent discrimination, and the effects of discrimination in the workplace.
Discrimination occurs when an employee suffers from unfavorable or unfair treatment due to their race, religion, national origin, disabled or veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Employees who have suffered reprisals for opposing workplace discrimination or for reporting violations to the authorities are also considered to be discriminated against. Federal law prohibits discrimination in work-related areas, such as recruiting, hiring, job evaluations, promotion policies, training, compensation and disciplinary action. (employeeissues.com, 2006)
In an ideal world, every person is treated equally when it comes to getting a job, advancing in his or her career and being treated fairly in the workplace. Unfortunately, discrimination still exists in hiring, firing and promotions; and the diversity of the workforce regrettably can cause hostility in the workplace when individuals do not appreciate and respect the differences among themselves and their co-workers.
Discrimination is defined as an “unfair treatment of a person, racial group, minority, or an action based on prejudice”, it means to “distinguish, single out, or make a distinction between two people” (Gender). There are many ways that someone might be discriminated against in the workplace. Often you cannot pick up a newspaper and read through it without reading about at least one workplace discrimination case. Workplace discrimination can be anything from being treated unfavorably because of your skin color to something as simple as a personality trait. Whether the discrimination comes from a supervisor, co-worker or even a customer, it is considered illegal. The US. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
According to minorities today, racism and discrimination are some of the major factors that are present in the workplace. In the labor force specifically, we see racism, discrimination, and inequality that deprive minorities of the opportunity to succeed in life. Research shows that African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, women, lesbians, gays, and transgenders in the world suffer injustices that shouldn’t be taking place according to laws that were placed to defend these groups. According to the research, minorities in the labor force are not getting their due because they are treated unequally, face discrimination and their employers violate their rights.
There are many different views on what actions the government should or should not take against discrimination in the work place. People who want the government to take action want them to put a law in act to give employees the right to sue their employer if they are discriminated against. On the other hand people want the government to just leave it alone and let the issues work themselves out. The views on each side of the issue can be somewhat extreme, while still proving their point. The ideas that both sides of the issue present put the bill under a lot of scrutiny.