Prejudice facts for kids
Prejudice means having an opinion about something or someone without really knowing the facts. It's like making up your mind about a person or a group before you've even met them or learned about them. The word comes from two old Latin words: "pre," meaning "before," and "judge," meaning to decide. So, it literally means to "judge beforehand."
Often, when people talk about prejudice, they mean disliking others just because they are different. This could be because of their skin color (called racial prejudice), their religion (religious prejudice), or where they come from (their nationality). Such strong, unfair opinions can sometimes lead to people being treated badly, which is called discrimination. It can even cause serious problems like hatred or conflict between groups.
Contents
What is Prejudice?
Prejudice is a strong feeling or idea you have about someone or something, even if you don't have good reasons or real experiences to back it up. It's a judgment made too early. Imagine you decide you won't like a new movie just because of its title, without watching any part of it. That's a type of prejudice.
How Prejudice Affects People
When people have prejudice against others, it can lead to unfair treatment. For example, someone might not get a job, or be left out of a group, just because of their background or appearance. This unfair treatment is called discrimination. Prejudice can also make people feel sad, angry, or unwelcome.
Why Being Fair Matters
Being fair means treating everyone equally and making decisions based on facts, not on personal feelings or guesses. This is especially important in certain jobs.
Fairness in Courts
In a court of law, a Judge must be completely fair when deciding if someone is guilty or innocent. They need to have an "open mind." This means they listen to all the evidence and facts without already having an opinion. If a judge knew the person on trial, they might be prejudiced and want to help their friend, which would not be fair. That's why judges promise to be unbiased, meaning they don't lean towards one side.
Fairness in Competitions
It's also important not to be prejudiced when you are judging a competition. If you are an adjudicator (a judge) in a singing contest, you should pick the best singer, not just your friend. Similarly, a juror in a trial must listen to all the information before deciding. Being fair helps make sure everyone gets a just outcome.
Prejudice and Stereotypes
Prejudice often goes hand-in-hand with stereotypes. A stereotype is an oversimplified and often untrue idea about a whole group of people. For example, thinking "all teenagers are lazy" is a stereotype. When someone believes a stereotype, they might develop prejudice against people from that group, even if the stereotype isn't true for most of them.
Related topics
Images for kids
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Mr. Prejudice - painted by Horace Pippin in 1943, shows his view of race relations in the United States.
See also
In Spanish: Prejuicio para niños
