3. Topic: Prejudice and Discrimination
Title: How Do I Really Feel?
(Adapted from:Rights and Responsibilities The 4th and 5th R's of Education. page 19-24, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, 1993.)
Level: Intermediate
Outcomes:
1. To understand that negative stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination.
2. To illustrate how stereotypes contribute to prejudice and discrimination.
3. To consider personal responsibility for the promotion and protection of the rights of others.
Curriculum Connections:
Strategies and Activities:
1. As a way of having students think about their attitudes toward minority groups, present a set of statements related to ethnic and cultural groups. Ask students to indicate whether they agree or disagree with each statement. (Examples of statements are provided below under the heading. "My Personal Attitudes and Beliefs About Ethnic and Cultural Minorities). Student responses should remain confidential. The teacher/facilitator takes each statement and provide background and data (See "Responses to Personal Attitude Statements").
As follow-up, ask students to work in small groups to consider the following questions:
a) Why do some people form stereotyped images of minority groups in our society?
b) What are the effects of these images on 1) our personal behaviour? 2) the self-concept and behaviour of the person representing a minority group?
2. Students could research and display or present situations that depict stereotypical images of a variety of cultures. Possible sources are old movies or television programs, advertizing, books, comics, etc.. Ask students to comment on the examples they have presented.
Implications for Teaching/Learning:
As follow-up or evaluation students can be asked to create a role-playing activity which demonstrates positive responses to a defined situation. (Note: The defined situation can be generated from the statements on the "Personal Attitudes and Beliefs" sheet).
Personal Attitudes Towards Minorities
Question |
Agree |
Disagree |
| 1. East Indians don't mix well with other workers. | ||
| 2. Black workers are always saying there is discrimination when they don't get a job or a promotion. | ||
| 3. Immigrants take jobs away from Canadians. | ||
| 4. Canada will become overpopulated if more immigrants come. | ||
| 5. Immigrants put a strain on social services. | ||
| 6. Blacks in Canada should not blame slavery for their problems because there has been slavery in Europe too but people have overcome it. | ||
| 7. Immigrants should have to speak English on the job. | ||
| 8. Most Canadians don't discriminate against non-white minorities. | ||
| 9. Immigrants from other countries cannot fit in easily because they are unable to adjust to the climate. | ||
| 10. Each black immigrant usually brings 17 relatives with him. |
Source: Rights and Responsibilities: The 4th and 5th R's of Education,
Human Rights Commission, 1993.
Answers For Facilitator
Personal Attitudes Towards Minorities
1. A stereotype which may have been fed by language difficulties, shyness, lack of understanding of Canadian culture.
2. A stereotype. Discrimination against black workers is widespread and well documented.
3. In 1975, the Economic Council of Canada demonstrated that unemployment would be the same whether or not there is immigration. Immigrants often contribute specific job skills or take jobs that Canadians don't want. Immigrants also create a demand for goods and services.
4. To have a stable population Canada needs an immigration rate of 150,000 per year.
5. The main strain on social services comes from internal immigrants.
6. This statement projects an image of Blacks as whiners and complainers. Slavery did leave a legacy of disadvantage in North America which it did not leave in Europe because it was not institutionalized there.
7. Yes, if English is a necessary skill to do the job.
8. The evidence (complaints, the status of minorities, etc.) shows that enough discrimination exists for there to be cause for concern.
9. No evidence. Many Canadians who have lived there for a long time have as much difficulty with the weather as do new immigrants.
10. No evidence.
Source: Rights and Responsibilities: The 4th and 5th R's of Education, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, 1993.
While there may be increasing concerns about the number of immigrants coming to Canada, there is evidence to suggest that these concerns are linked as much to issues of unemployment and the economy as they a re to issues of diversity.
Immigration and the Economy - Some critics argue that immigration represents a significant drain on public resources, and the economy in general. However, the best evidence we have suggests that immigration, as a whole, has either a neutral or a positive economic impact. Studies have specifically shown that:
- According to 1991 Census data and the 1988 Survey of Consumer Finances, immigrants, as a group, are less likely to draw welfare or other benefits than those born in Canada.
- Immigrants contributed more in taxes than they absorbed in public services over the period of 1971 to 1986, according to a 1992 study published by Dr. A. Akbari.
- Immigrants are more likely than those born in Canada to be unemployed, according to 1991 Census data.
- In 1991, t he Economic Council of Canada concluded that immigration has a small, but positive impact on our economy; and that immigrants contribute a net benefit to the economy once they become established. The Council estimated that this contribution averaged almost $2,000 annually per immigrant, in perpetuity.
The Council also concluded that immigrants create as many new jobs as they take, and that economists have found no evidence to date that, in the long term, immigration makes unemployment worse for those born in Canada.
Source: Immigration Canada
Status Indians and Inuit: refers to native people registered by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. Most Status Indians and Inuit are under federal jurisdiction.
Non-Status Indians and Metis: refers to native people not covered by special agreements and Metis, who are of mixed ancestry. Non-Status Indians and Metis do not live on reserves. They come under provincial jurisdiction.
Personal Attitudes Towards Native People
Questions |
Agree |
Disagree |
| 1. Native people are not reliable in work situations because they do not get to work on time and do not tell their superiors why they miss work. | ||
| 2. Native women are passive and unable to assert themselves. | ||
| 3. Native people cannot handle money. They always blow their pay in one shot. | ||
| 4. Many native people have a serious drinking problem. | ||
| 5. Native people do not like to work. They would rather live of the government. | ||
| 6. Native people are happier when they work outdoors. They get restless on indoor jobs. | ||
| 7. Native people are better at hard manual labor. | ||
| 8. Indian land claims are not based on reality but on popular novels, movies and television. | ||
| 9. Granting Native Indians special privileges because "they were here first" is stupid. They have done little to build Canada into the great country it is today. | ||
| 10. Calling an Indian savage is just being friendly - like calling an Irish person Paddy. |
Source: Rights and Responsibilities: The 4th and 5th R's of Education, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, 1993.
Answers For Facilitator Only
Personal Attitudes Toward Native People
1. This generalization about Native People assumes that they are unable to adapt to normal work situation and to the work ethic. Occasionally, because of cultural patterns, Native People may have their own time concepts and values. In this case, it is the responsibility of the employer to attempt to accommodate their values as far as possible without undue hardship.
2. This image of Native women is frequently based on stereotypes of the beautiful Indian princess or the second-class "squaw". Native women suffer the same disadvantages as non-Native women; lack of positive self images and an almost complete lack of real power. Yet they also face the additional handicap of being members of a disadvantages group.
3. These opinions are of course stereotypes. Generalizations are as out of place in this connection as in all other similar situations. If there is a problem, perhaps stemming from cultural values in conflict, the solution is certainly not a paternalistic approach of "let me handle your money for you", as often expressed by do-gooders. As in the case with so many other similar aspects, the answer must be found in education.
4. Alcoholism is a common problem wherever there is poverty.
5. Many Native People do not have a choice between the reserve and employment.
6. This stereotype does not credit Native People with the ability to adapt to jobs indoors. Many Native People have not lived the traditional lifestyle of hunting, trapping, etc.
7. There is no evidence to prove that Native People are unable, due to any mental and intellectual difference, to learn the necessary skills required to become successful supervisors and managers, and to hold other office positions. However, it is true that until the mid 1950's, the view of the government and churches (which ran what schools existed for Native People) was that Natives were not educable and did not have the capability of going beyond grade 5 or 6 in elementary school. For this erroneous belief by non-Native officials, the Native People have paid a horrendous price in terms of lost job opportunities, educational advancement and earing income.
8. Indian land claims are based on historical facts.
9. Indians are not asking for special privileges but for a means of survival. Indians contributed greatly to the development of Canada.
10. Savage has far worse connotations than Paddy. One might argue that Indians in Canada are far more disadvantaged than Irish people and are, as a result, more likely to be hurt by stereotypes.
Source: Rights and Responsibilities: The 4th and 5th R's of Education, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, 1993.