A question of prejudices, and a survey?

Question

I've recently reviewed a (somewhat informal, but reliably gathered) study that strongly suggested that people have different levels of tolerance toward different 'types' of minorities (for one example, that most people now have no open problem with black people, but are still a little leery of Muslims).

So, I'd like to posit a little hypothetical question. Suppose you had to trust a person who you didn't know very well in a position that required both professional competence and personal ethics (such as monitoring the accounts of a business where the security and records weren't very well established yet, for instance, or housesitting for you).

Would it make you any less (or more) comfortable with the person if you were made aware that they were...

• Mexican?

• Black?

• A man?

• A woman?

• Christian?

• Muslim?

• Atheist?

...and if so, why?

(P.S. While I'm sure that most of our responses to such a situation would be to find someone we knew or trusted better, the purpose of this exercise is to investigate preconceptions we might have about certain groups of people, so such an answer isn't really helpful. For the purposes of this exercise, let's say you're in a bind and have to use this person anyway, and we're only discussing whether certain attributes would make you more uncomfortable with them or not.)

Answer 1

1. no

2. no

3. no

4. no

5. depends on the extent

6. see above

7. no

Answer 2

We're all laughing right now in my household because I read the gist of your question aloud and there are people present and mooching food in my kitchen as we speak : ) who are here for our mediation group and who represent everyone of your examples on your list PLUS a Laotian, a vegetarian or two, a Thai, four Buddhist roshi, A Korean Christian, a L*****n, a cross-dresser, a retired Jewish federal judge  . . . we're laughing too hard for me to type  . . . those Mormon boys on their bikes just came up the driveway.  OK.  I'm calm again.  No.  I have no prejudices and I know exactly who means me well and who means me harm.  I'm going to go eat now.

Answer 3

Religious stances - don't bother me to much. Extremists do. Never ever ask my aunt anything to do with, possibly interepreted by or remotely associated with the bible. You wont hear the end of it.

Ethnic origin ... na doesn't bother me either. Tho not many mexicans here I don't think ... met americans, canadians, polish, germans, french, norweigans, danish, dutch, africans, bulgarians, russians, greeks, italians, chinese, japanese, arabs and I think a few others.

Men Women - not out of gender out of instint I may have issues with them otherwise no.

Answer 4

generally no, I try to see past steretypes and see each person as they are.

Would it make you any less (or more) comfortable with the person if you were made aware that they were...

(ASSUMING I'M BLIND)

• Mexican? no

• Black? probably

• A man? no

• A woman? hmmm?...maybe

• Christian? depends

• Muslim? yes

• Atheist? probably

Answer 5

No, it would not make me any less comfortable with any of those groups.

People should be judged by who they are.  

Answer 6

It depends on how they presented themselves. I wouldn't have any problem with someone just because of there race/religion, but it might be a contreputing factor.



For example, if a black man turned up in a suit and tie and talked normaly, I wouldn't have a problem. But if they seemed 'ghetto' I wouldn't want to know.



If a muslim presentd themselves as well integrated, and normal, I wouldn't have a problem. But if they turned up in a white cloth/dress thing and one of those tea cosies on there head (no offence, but that's what they look like) I would be very suspicious.



People naturally take more kindly to those who are similar to themselves - for example, if someone has a similar dress sense to yourself, you sub-conciously think better of them. If you see someone in the street who supports the same football team as yourself, you think better of them. The same applies for race and religion, and occasionally (depending on the circumstances) s*x as well.



The left should stop pretending that we're all the same, and only biggotted people think less of someone because of the way they dress, there race or whatever. It's human nature to side with your own people. If it isn't natural to side with your own, then why is 'racism' such a problem in all multicultural societies?

Answer 7

It is normal to be suspicious, not comfortable with other person. It is a human nature, egoistic side of your mind.

Prejudice is an irrational thought, but we lived in a society with prejudice, so everybody is influenced by it.

Answer 8

That's a very broad question.  Is the Mexican a doctor or a roofer?  Is the black person a thug or a business man?  Is the man a lawyer or a criminal?  Is the woman a prostitute or a church pastor?  Does the Christian go to church or was just baptized when they were little and doesn't care?  Is the Muslim from another country or grew up in America?  Is the Atheist a liberal feminist who despises anything normal or a genetic scientist at the local university?

See all the difference that can make?  You need to know the specifics before you can answer this!