Free Prejudices Argumentative Essay Example

Different authors discuss types of racism such as old-fashioned, aversive, symbolic and others types of racism. I believe that most of these kinds of racism are similar, but some types of racism suggest prejudiced aggressive behavior while some types of racism suggest rather attitudes about representatives of different cultures and races.
I cannot remember some special stories about topics such as racism, social dominance orientation, extrinsic and intrinsic religious orientation, etc. My attitudes towards individuals of other races or cultures can be different: more or less positive. These attitudes and prejudice depend on my experience. For example, I had the friend from Japan who was a very nice and kind person. Because of this experience, I tend to believe that most individual from Japan are good and friendly people. On the other hand, the bad experience in communication with some people can lead to negative prejudice about other representatives of the same culture, etc.
But, as the rule, I become angry when I hear that somebody tells some phrases like “all man are cheaters”, “all white people believe in their superiority”, etc. I do not like the most when people shape some prejudices on the base of a little experience. Also, I think that every person must be treated as personality, unique individuality who has the unique set of capacities, talents, and traits. I believe that if a person is smart or stupid, cute or rude, etc. we must understand that it is because her/his religion, race, gender, etc.
I believe that Archie Bunker, the main character of the movie All in the family, demonstrate features of old-fashioned and symbolic racist. Archie believes that he is not prejudiced as we see at the end of episode “Sammy`s Visit”. He complains to Sam Davis that his daughter and others blame him (Archie) for being prejudiced.
Archie, without a doubt, behaves like an old-fashioned racist because he believes in the superiority of whites people (Belief in superiority of white people is also a feature of social dominance orientation). This belief can be recognized when he talks about Sam Davis: “just like a regular personas fine a gentleman as ever you'd want to meetif it weren't for the rearview mirror there, I'd have thought he was a white guy.” The true meaning of these words is that Davis is “just like the regular person”. These words suggest that Davis is not a regular person because he is black.
Features of out-group derogation and in-group favoritism can be recognized in several episodes. For example, Archie demonstrates disgust when Sam Davis mistakenly thinks that daughters of Archie are married to a black guy; also, Archie drinks from the same cup with his white friend but he does not want to drink from that cup after Sam Davis drink from it.
Archie`s social dominance orientation can be recognized when he tells to Davis that “God put black people in Africa and the rest people - in white countries”. In this episode and in other episodes we see that Archie Bunker believes that white and black people are not equal. Black people must live in another country, in other neighborhoods, black people cannot intersex with white people As we see in the episode “Lionel moves into the neighborhood” Archie experiences anger, fear and disgust when he learns that his new neighbors are black people.
Archie treats Sam Davis in a little better way than he treat for example Lionel’s mother in another episode. Archie explain to his son-in-law that Sam deserves compliments and better treatment because he is not just “an ace of spades”, but the one “classy” black because he has “ten million dollars and many cars”, because he can call to people from his limousine, etc. Archie treat Sam in better way, because he is a famous, a very successful man. Archie ask Edith to brink for Sam coffee, the best food they have in their house, Archie allows and asks Sam to sit down in the most comfortable armchair in their house, etc.
In that episode when Archie talks with Sam Davis about God and that God wanted all people live together, but put black individuals in Africa, Archie use his religion for proving his belief that black and white people are different and not equal. So we can state that Archie shows features of extrinsic religious orientation.
Archie also demonstrates in the movie prejudices about the role of women. He communicates and behaves with his wife in the much rude way. He reminds to his wife all the time that she must stay in the kitchen making coffee, cooking and he often ask her to stay silent, “shut up”. It seems that Archie believes that his wife is more stupid than he is.