Bigotry facts for kids

A bigot is someone who is very unfair and closed-minded. They strongly dislike or are intolerant of people who have different opinions, lifestyles, or identities than their own. Often, these strong opinions are based on prejudice, which means judging someone without knowing them.

The word bigot is often used to describe a person who stubbornly holds onto negative prejudices, even when those ideas are proven to be wrong. Different types of bigotry can be linked to certain beliefs or ways of thinking.

What is Bigotry?

Bigotry means being intolerant of others. It's when someone has very strong, unfair opinions about people who are different from them. These differences can be about someone's beliefs, how they live, or who they are.

For example, a bigot might dislike someone just because of their:

• Religion
• Race
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Nationality
• Political views

These strong opinions are usually based on prejudice. Prejudice is when you judge someone or a group of people without really knowing them. It's like making up your mind about someone before you've even met them.

Where Does the Word "Bigot" Come From?

The word bigot came into the English around 1598. It came from French. At first, it was used to describe someone who was a "religious hypocrite", especially a woman.

The exact origin of the word is not fully known. Some people think it might have come from the German words bei and gott, or the English words by God. There's an old story that the people of Normandy were first called bigots. This happened when their Duke, Rollo, refused to kiss the king's foot. When asked to do it, Rollo supposedly said, "No by God!" The king then called him bigot. However, this story is probably not true.

Why is Bigotry Harmful?

Bigotry can lead to many negative things. It can cause people to be treated unfairly, which is called Discrimination. When people are bigoted, they might:

• Exclude others
• Say mean things
• Treat people differently based on unfair ideas
• Even cause harm to others

Bigotry can also lead to bigger problems in society, like Racism, Sexism, or Religious persecution. It stops people from understanding and respecting each other's differences. Learning about and fighting against bigotry helps create a more fair and welcoming world for everyone.

Related topics

• Antisemitism
• Discrimination
• Fascism
• Homophobia
• Misogyny
• Misandry
• Nazism
• Racism
• Religious persecution
• Sexism
• Xenophobia

Images for kids

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  An African-American man drinking from a racially segregated water cooler marked "Colored", in Oklahoma City c. 1939.

• 

  Nationalists in Corsica sometimes spray-paint or shoot traffic signs in French.

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  Anti-Arab sign in Pattaya Beach, Thailand

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  German warning in German-occupied Poland 1939 – "No entrance for Poles!"

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  Antisemitic graffiti in Lithuania. The words read Juden raus (German for Jews out) and Hasse (presumably a misspelling of Hass, German for hate)

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  An African-American child at a segregated drinking fountain on a courthouse lawn, North Carolina, US 1938.

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  In the 1990s, Bhutan expelled its Hindu population or forced it to leave the country in order to preserve Bhutan's Buddhist culture and identity.

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  Students protesting against racial quotas in Brazil: "Quer uma vaga? Passe no vestibular!" ("Do you want a spot? Pass the entrance exam!")

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  An anti-discrimination education workshop at the Auschwitz Jewish Center, Poland, 2019

See also

In Spanish: Prejuicio para niños