Essay Example on Prejudice stereotypes and Discrimination

Recently the topic of prejudice stereotypes and discrimination is abundantly present in our society Members of the various groups are literally not understood although they mention the same terms as rights protection freedom and equality Obviously these are the common values of the majority of people in our society but if we divide these people into different groups chaos and disagreement start to happen Before we start to identify a group in the UK who face prejudice and discrimination lets explain what prejudice and discrimination really are Prejudice is an attitude Prejudice is followed by emotions beliefs thoughts and behaviors that are the result of the first two components It can be positive and negative Prejudice in the context of a negative attitude on others can be defined as hostile or negative attitude towards members of a recognizable group of people based solely on their membership in that group While on the other hand discrimination is any unjustified distinction or unequal treatment to some people or groups of people as well as to members of their families or their close ones openly or covertly 

Now we can talk about a specific group in the UK that faces these inequalities which is the LGBT community Like other marginalized groups LGBT people historically speaking are exposed to oppression in the form of abuse and violence discrimination in areas such as employment housing access to education and human services as well as laws that have also actively discriminated against them or failed to protect fundamental human rights For a number of years this oppression served to keep LGBT people invisible

At the same time the predominant image of LGBT people was the flagrant stereotypes that encourage homophobia and heterosexism Although the situation is slowly changing LGBT people are still faced with multiple forms of social oppression Violence threats are part of the everyday life of a large number of LGBT people particularly young people Rivers and D Augelli documented the stunning share of LGBT people who were exposed to peer violence abuse and physical violence in different environments including their neighborhood home and school and by various groups of individuals such as peers parents and teachers Regardless of the lack of such research it is enough to read the newspapers or watch the evening news to see the dramatic nature of various acts of hatred towards young LGBT people Rivers I D Augelli A R 2001 Different forms of discrimination and oppression supported by legislation and other forms of legal action explicitly exclude LGBT people from the enjoyment of rights and protection that is accessible to most citizens This includes the adoption of laws prohibiting same sex marriages which sexual activities among people of the same sex include in criminal law prohibit the same sex couple s adoption of children and prohibit LGBT people from joining the armed forces In addition the omission of sexual orientation into human rights legislation leaves the door open for discrimination based on sexual orientation including employers refusing to employ

 LGBT people or wanting to release them housing owners who refuse to lease LGBT people and courts that take sexual orientation into consideration when deciding on custody of children Extending the psychological study of sexual orientation to adolescence clearly has generated important findings as well as significant challenges to our previous understanding of sexual orientations over the lifespan R D Augelli and Charlotte J Patterson 2002 296 pp This volume summarizes conceptual frameworks Oppression rejection discrimination harassment and violence have a negative effect on physical and mental health both among adults and among adolescents LGBT populations A study involving gay men clearly established the link between internalized homophobia stigma expectation of rejection and discrimination and real experiences of anti gay violence and discrimination against negative mental health effects Meyer 1995 To focus on empowering the groups being discriminated against to resist the negative impacts of discrimination there are multiple support groups for LGBT community members throughout the UK One of those is Consortium which is a wide network that offers lesbian gays bisexual transgender people voluntary and community organizations in the UK 

 LGBT people or wanting to release them housing owners who refuse to lease LGBT people and courts that take sexual orientation into consideration when deciding on custody of children Extending the psychological study of sexual orientation to adolescence clearly has generated important findings as well as significant challenges to our previous understanding of sexual orientations over the lifespan R D Augelli and Charlotte J Patterson 2002 296 pp This volume summarizes conceptual frameworks Oppression rejection discrimination harassment and violence have a negative effect on physical and mental health both among adults and among adolescents LGBT populations A study involving gay men clearly established the link between internalized homophobia stigma expectation of rejection and discrimination and real experiences of anti gay violence and discrimination against negative mental health effects Meyer 1995 To focus on empowering the groups being discriminated against to resist the negative impacts of discrimination there are multiple support groups for LGBT community members throughout the UK One of those is Consortium which is a wide network that offers lesbian gays bisexual transgender people voluntary and community organizations in the UK 

They offer counseling and organized assistance to specific groups and or communities through which persons of similar experience are advised by other people Organized assistance is an important source of information and support for LGBT people many have received support understanding and information crucial for their own self crushing and coping with homo bi transphobia We can also mention a vital organization for LGBT community which is called Coming Out the UK It aims to provide safety to people who want to come out while giving them constant love and support Organizing parades also help them feel more accepted and help them become more comfortable with their sexuality The counseling center can also be off for helping curing anxiety depressed mood low self esteem problems with intimate relationships and communication with a partner inadequate communication within the family and so on We should focus on reducing discrimination and prejudice in the groups doing the discrimination With that being said it is important to educate them on human rights and human nature that is the freedom to express love to whoever they want We need to work hard to promote tolerance towards diversity because a society that does not tolerate LGBT community is a society that does not tolerate those who are minorities by any other criterion For example old people do not get the same treatment as younger generations and old age is what is waiting for us all We must stop believing in the myth that it is so easy to divide people on the basis of one characteristic and by virtue of one characteristic to evaluate them With education and quality information people come to realize that prejudices of any kind are not good They have destructive consequences for the mental health of people both those who suffer discrimination and those who have a negative emotion and prejudice on their own on any ground