The Social Breakdown

Abstract

Andddd we’re back with part two of our series on stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination! In this episode we take a close look at institutional discrimination. First, we explore the sociological concept of the ‘institution’. Next, we look at how discrimination can plague an institution, and why it is that sometimes we don’t even know that we’re participants in this type of biased behavior. We end the episode with some ways that we faulty human beings can reduce and prevent discrimination. Tune in here to learn more, and don’t forget to subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts!

Keywords

Prejudice, discrimination, stereotypes, racism, institutions

Sources

• Again, we used Elliot Aronson’s fantastic book The Social Animal this episode.
• In our last episode we mentioned the Harvard Implicit Association Test, but totally forgot to put a link to the site (which is free and very easy to use)!
• A review of some of our basic definitions from this episode:
  • Stereotypes: “To assign identical characteristics to any person in a group, regardless of the actual variation among members of that group.” (From Elliot Aronson’s The Social Animal)
  • Prejudice:  “A hostile or negative attitude toward a distinguishable group based on generalizations derived from faulty or incomplete information.” (From Elliot Aronson’s The Social Animal)
  • Discrimination: Unfair treatment of members of a stigmatized group that denies a member their rights.
  • Institution: “Stable patterns of behavior that define, govern, and constrain action. An institution is an organization or other formal social structure that governs a field of action.” (from Oxford Bibliographies)
• What is institutional discrimination? It is when an institution puts into place discriminatory policies and practices that favor the majority group and disadvantage minority groups. These policies and practices are embedded in the existing structures of our society in the form of norms!
• ‘I don’t know his DNA’: Craft brewery manager says he can’t confirm black employee’s race in discrimination lawsuit
• Some of the laws and policies that we cited in this episode were:
  • 19th Amendment (1920): Gave women the right to vote “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
  • Civil Rights Act (1964): Protects employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin
  • Title IX (1972): Enforced by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Protects people from discrimination based on sex in education including, “recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment.” in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance (ACLU)
• We discussed the rampant prejudice, discrimination, and institutional discrimination against Micronesians here on the islands of Hawaii. Here are some articles we cited and relevant links:
  • The Guardian article, “#BeingMicronesian: Online Hatred Spurs Positive Fightback”
  • Civil Beat article,“Micronesians in Hawaii Still Struggle to get Health Care”
  • Where is Micronesia?
  • What are COFA laws?
• Other types of institutional discrimination (along with some good articles) we mentioned were…
• Pregnancy Discrimination
  •  Correll et al., “Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty?”
  •  Al Jazeera, “’Motherhood Penalty’ Starts Even Before Kids, Study Finds”

• Weight and Size Discrimination
  •  The New York Times, “Fat Bias Starts Early and Takes a Serious Toll”
  • The Conversation, “Discrimination Against Fat People is So Endemic…”

• Housing Discrimination
  • The Washington Post, “The ‘Heartbreaking’ Decrease in Black Homeownership”
  • The Conversation, “Housing Discrimination Thrives 50 Years After Fair Housing Act Tried to End It”

• During quick breaks, Omar was asked about Grammarly. FYI we’re not sponsored by them (or anyone for that matter).