Following are the salient features of prejudice:
- Learned and Not Inborn: Prejudice is acquired through family, culture, peer groups, and media.
In India: Children may absorb casteist or communal biases from elders and social environments. - Generalized and Stereotyped: It applies broad judgments to an entire group, ignoring individual differences.
Example: “All lower-caste people are unclean” or “All women are weak.” - Emotional and Rigid: Prejudices are often driven by fear, hatred, or feelings of superiority and are resistant to change, even when evidence contradicts them.
- Harmful and Discriminatory: Prejudice leads to social exclusion, injustice, and unequal opportunities.
In India: Dalits face exclusion in education or jobs, and women may be denied leadership roles. - Persistent Across Generations: These attitudes are passed down over time, making them deeply rooted in social systems and harder to change.
- Targets Minority and Marginalized Groups: In Indian society, prejudice is often directed toward:
- Lower castes (Dalits) – e.g., untouchability
- Religious minorities – leading to communal violence
- Tribal groups – seen as backward or uncivilized
- Women and girls – gender bias in education and employment
