PREFERENCES AND PREJUDICES

This chapter is dedicated to understanding better the way we see each other and ourselves. We learn very early that there are some unwritten rules and ideas about "us" and "them". That is the basic reason we find some people and groups attractive and some repulsive. Prejudice and stereotypes based on those rules start becoming established very early. Because of this some people (even chil-dren) are unpopular, sometimes suspected and even abused. We have the ten-dency to express social distance towards those who are fat, coloured, Gypsy, invalid or old. These individuals do not get the same treatment or opportunnities as other members of our society - they are often isolated and pushed to stay with people of the same characteristics.

Why do we have more confidence in someone with a neat hairdo than in a person with a strange haircut? Why do we elect men rather than women for more responsible positions in administration? Why do we all think in stereotypes? Stereotypes are mental pictures simplified in a way to extend a characteristic of one group representative to everyone in the group. It results in the belief that the behaviour of certain group members is typical for the whole group. That process of generalization starts from a very shallow level of group dynamic - for example Italians are supposed to be passionate and impulsive, and Afro-Americans to be lazy and unreliable.

There are positive and negative stereotypes but they both are to be questioned. We are aware of some and we try to reduce them but some are more persistent. When completing high school or university we often experience that our stereo-typed ideas of high school education and teachers have fallen to pieces.

We can say that all stereotypes are problematic. The truth is that many of us think in stereotypes to feel better about ourselves and/or to think little of others - in other words - to feel superior. We often see those who are different as a threat or danger. But we should be aware of the fact that every person is unique and that diversity is to be celebrated, not to be afraid of.

We are rich in our differences. If people understand this and if they are able to enjoy it, we have pulled out the first nail that keeps prejudice together (John Lampen, The Peace Kit, QHS 1992). Ignoring someone who is different is the first sign of prejudice. It can be the first step to hatred and ends up in us thinking not of people who are different any more but of people who are less human. The second nail that keeps prejudice together is fear.

Three workshops dealing with preferences and prejudice should make students aware of the fact that the mental pictures we have about ourselves and others are changeable. New information and insights could start the process of changing towards an appreciation of difference.