Prejudice begins at home and spreads among peer groups. Prejudice resides where the space for dissent is shrunken and conformity is the norm. Prejudices are dissolved when there are conversations among elders, youth and children and not when elders only talk because no one learns from monologues. Conversations open up minds and clarify doubts. But community conversations are rare. Most conversations take place between and among elders; the youth talk to their peers and hence don’t learn from their elders. Similarly elders don’t know what their youth think and the opinions they have of issues in society. The fresh air of diversity and dissent is not allowed to circulate. Prejudice is nurtured particularly among insular groups. Those living in rural Meghalaya have little or no opportunities for cultural interface with others who are the ethnic other. That interface happens when they step out of their safe enclaves and come to the state capital of Shillong with its huge diversity and plural set-up. This is the first cultural shock for many who have not been prepared in their educational institutions to accept that the world beyond their home is not a homogenous space. This is where social skills come in. Those without the social skills to cope with differences tend to feel threatened and withdraw or become aggressive. It is here that prejudices develop as a safety mechanism. The tendency then is to fight and establish one’s territory lest someone else usurps it. If such behaviour is left unchecked and corrected through counseling it will have lasting impacts and produce little monsters that have the potential to create conflicts in society.
Prejudice is belittling; prejudiced people don’t see others as persons. They see them as a stereotype and don’t see others as their equals. Prejudice makes general assumptions of a person or a community based on limited understanding. This creates ignorance about a community and a generalization of a larger demographic. Prejudiced people rely on stereotypes to inform themselves about what they think they need to know about a person or member of a group or community other than theirs. Sadly those who experience prejudice are always denied a chance to explain who they are and share their story. They might be experiencing shame, anger, sadness, or a feeling of aggression. Psychologists aver that prejudice not only impacts the victims but it also affects the perpetrators. Above all prejudice deprives the person of a chance to learn about a community from that community’s perspective. Subsequently it can lead to harassment, abuse and violence.
Does this sound familiar? Perhaps some introspection is called for..
