Polarization Of Prejudice

And while discrimination based on sexuality, religion, political orientation, and race are highly prominent in today’s society, they were, perhaps, even more emphasized back in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, where classes created an almost impenetrable barrier between individuals. Verberg wrote that, “There was once a tradition which had developed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that awarded a central role in human aspirations and conduct to man’s need for approbation, self-esteem, and the desire of distinction and superiority” (662). Fitzwilliam Darcy faces these traditions, and the weight on a wealthy-man’s shoulders to uphold society’s norms. “Greed” and “pride” were once defined as social ways for a man to tame his
It is a poison that all who surround it drink and infect. But that is not to say an open communication style between parents and children increases polarization of negative outgroup attitudes. Discussions create questions, and questions allows for mental growth beyond the parents’ prejudices and blind following. Foster states that ". . .as soon as we notice blindness and sight as thematic components of a work, more and more related images and phrases emerge in the text” (203), and this is true to life. As soon as one becomes aware of the dangerous effects of putting social groups into boxes or assuming one's character, blindness is eradicated. They can then go on to promote others to listen. And while only one self-aware person sounds powerless, it is the effect of the whole that each individual creates. Elizabeth and Darcy’s decision to love and marry even with the looming displeasure of Darcy’s Aunt Catherine and the overzealous excitement of a wealth-craving mother presents an example will therefore create more open-minded children. Those who read and become aware will prevail into a world of more
Compassion opens the door to empathy and sympathy and love and acceptance. Its four elements: 1) recognising suffering, 2) understanding the universality of suffering in human experience, 3) feeling moved by the person suffering and emotionally connecting with their distress, and 4) acting or being motivated to act to alleviate suffering (Gu 1) better connects individuals on a humanized level. While prejudice attempts to force people into archetypes and caricatures, compassion acknowledges an identity separate of one’s own. Eastern traditions, such as Buddhism, is an example of a teaching that emphasizes compassion as the fundamental part of our humanity. But so few common religions of today reiterate the importance of acceptance of the different. Christianity says to “love thy neighbour,” but pointedly discriminates against women, other religions, sexualities, and practices. And this is not an uncommon characteristic of religion. Most preach assimilation. Therefore it is in the power of the individual to break down barriers and spread compassion. Because what many fail to realize is that there is a distinct difference between compassion of the self and compassion toward others (Gu 12). They are not so tightly interwoven as one may think. And while compassion starts within the self, if one continually practices it like one would practice bigotry or distrust, one would be amazed by the change of outlook on humanity and those all around.