JOURNAL 2: Stereotypes, Prejudices and Discrimination.

Stereotypes are far from being accurate. The basis of discrimination is often found mostly in stereotypes which are beliefs, ideas and positive or negative feelings toward some people belonging to a particular group. When you make a negative assessment of a group based on stereotypes, the result is prejudice. When prejudices lead a person to act in a certain way about the group the result is discrimination.
Last class I tried to make a point about politicians. I state that I believe that most politicians were corrupt. It was a mistake to generalize on a certain group based only on stereotypes; however, it is important to understand that certain concepts and believes have a background.
The history of my region (South America) has being marked by corruption and bad intentions. Many politicians don’t understand power. They take advantage of their positions using power to satisfied personal interests.
Many countries in the region have unemployment rates of 30% or more, some countries have over 50% of the population in poverty and many in misery. For me say that a politician is clean and works for the people is an idea that doesn’t fit within my experiences and my stereotypes.
I still think that is an error to generalize and misjudge groups, but it is also a mistake to judge people for having certain stereotypes and preconceive ideas of those groups.
To reach a closer sense of objectivity a journalist must investigate for those preconceive ideas and stereotypes. It is also important to dig deeper to look for the causes that trigger those prejudices and ideas. A community produces a common understanding of the world based on their life experiences, their common facts and their myths. All these elements are vital to achieve a closer degree of objectivity.