30 EXAMPLES OF PREJUDICE - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The prejudices are negative opinions formed character to a person, community people, object or event from preconceived ideas, stereotypes and preferences.

It is said that someone is prejudiced when they judge someone or something beforehand or in advance without having had contact before or without having any knowledge. An example of social prejudice is to think all gypsies are criminals.

The etymological origin of the term prejudice comes from the Latin praeiudicium, which translates as "judged in advance." Therefore, prejudices are considered a kind of distortion of what is judged, that there is really no knowledge about the person / group / thing in question.

Prejudices are part of all societies, since they are born from the traditions, norms, beliefs and customs that they have. Its consequences fall especially on the person or group about whom there are widespread prejudices in a society. Prejudices can be social, religious, sexual, racial, political, professional, among others.

Types of prejudices and examples

The following are some examples of the most common biases:

Appearance bias

Appearance prejudice is one that criticizes or rejects the physical appearance of a person because they think or have the belief that it breaks the socially established norms. These types of assessments are common in conservative individuals and communities.

Examples

• Many people assume that people of color and tall individuals are good at basketball.
• To think that all the people who get tattoos are criminals and drug addicts.

Gender bias

Gender bias have an opinion on the capabilities of the female or male gender. Prejudices of this kind keep the possibility of equality away.

Examples

• Believing that men should always be strong, because crying or showing sensitivity makes them weak.
• Believe that women are more sentimental than men.

Racial prejudice

This type of prejudice is aimed at having ideas or opinions about a person or community according to their physical characteristics or skin color. From there beliefs arise about their psychological, cultural and emotional traits.

Example

To think that Europeans are more intellectual than people of other races.

Origin prejudice

Origin prejudice is one in which a group of people is rejected, criticized or left out because of the fact that they were born in a certain country or because they belong to a specific region. In general, this type of opinion considers that there are better or superior nationalities than others.

Examples

• A prejudice towards Italians is that they are mobsters.
• Thinking that all Muslims or people born in Arab countries are terrorists and violent.

Sexual prejudice

This variety of prejudice is based on the ideas or opinions held about the sexual condition of an individual or group of people, as well as their behavior and performance within society. Sexual prejudice focuses on comparing the behaviors, decisions and capacities of homosexuals with heterosexuals.

Example

Think or think that homosexuals are people with psychological disorders and that their condition is a disease.

Class prejudice

A class prejudice is one in which an individual or group is conditioned by belonging to a certain social stratum. Thoughts and opinions are focused on people's moral and ethical attitudes. At the same time in the belief that they are better or worse for their level within society.

Example

To think that all the rich have obtained their fortune through illicit acts or corruption.

Political prejudice

This type of prejudice bases their opinions and beliefs about a person or group according to their political inclination.

Examples

• Having the idea that all adherents of communism expect the government to provide them with all the social, recreational and economic benefits to live, since they do not like to work.
• All capitalists are greedy and exploitative.

Age bias

This type of prejudice creates opinions about the age of individuals. It usually focuses on thinking that a person's chronological time limits or enables them to carry out a certain activity or make a decision. All this without taking into account that psychological and emotional development and experiences must be considered.

Examples

• To think that children always tell the truth and that because of their innocence they must be believed all the time.
• Older people must be controlled by someone.
• All teenagers are irresponsible.

Ethnic prejudice

This variety of prejudice is related to the negative opinions that are held regarding the cultural form of an individual or community. More specifically, it has to do with the criticisms and ideas that are created around the gastronomic, musical, artistic or historical traditions of a certain group.

Example

Thinking that gypsies are lazy and don't like to work.

Professional prejudice

This prejudice is associated with the professional activities that an individual performs. In general, it is linked to a specific union and to certain moral, ethical or sexual actions, which in turn generates certain conditions.

Example

Believe that secretaries or personal assistants always have a loving relationship with their bosses.

Religious prejudice

A prejudice of this type is one that is formed from the religious, spiritual or mystical beliefs that a person, community or society in general have. They almost always focus on how individuals act.

Examples

• Thinking that atheists are insensitive people who tend to act in a bad way.
• All Christians who attend Mass are trustworthy and good.

Educational prejudice

They are based on the opinions that arise from the educational formation of a person or society. Educational bias can occur towards an individual who received a good education and also towards another who has not been academically prepared.

Examples

• Believing that students who get good grades don't have a social life.
• To think that those who do not have a school degree are illiterate.

Linguistic prejudice

In simple terms, this prejudice has to do with the type of language and the form of expression that a specific individual or community uses to communicate. It is associated with the tone, the words or the rhythm used in speech.

Examples

• To think that indigenous languages ​​have no reason for being because very few people speak and understand them.
• Believing that people who use modern language are uneducated.

Prejudice with animals

This variety of prejudice is related to the opinions held about animals and their attitudes. In addition, they cover the preferences that some individuals have about particular species and the way in which they are associated with them.

Example

• Believe that those who have horses are rich.
• Thinking that homosexuals only prefer the company of cats.

Aesthetic bias

The aesthetic prejudice is related to the stereotypes or physical demands of beauty that a society imposes. In most cases they arise from advertising influence and the patterns it establishes.

Example

Thinking that people with excess body weight have less possibility and abilities to have a good job.

Health bias

This prejudice is associated with the negative opinions and ideas that are formed in relation to a physical or mental health condition that an individual or group has. People often judge the abilities and behaviors of those who suffer from them.

Example

Believe that people with Down syndrome do not have the ability to exercise or carry out a work activity.

Gastronomic prejudice

Gastronomic prejudice is one that criticizes or bases its opinions on the food consumed by some individuals in certain cultures. They originate from the rarity of the dishes they prepare because they are far from the traditional.

Example

To think that some indigenous and Asian cultures are insane for consuming worms or other species of insects or exotic animals.

Fashion bias

This prejudice is associated with the criticisms that are made and the opinions that are formed around the patterns imposed by a fashion or way of dressing. Many times it leans towards a particular genre or designer.

Example

Believing that men who dress in fashion are effeminate or homosexual.

Technological bias

A technological bias is related to the opinions of ideas that are held about technology and its advances. Mostly, they are oriented to the programs that are designed and how they influence children and young people.

Example

Believe that the experience of reading a book in physical form is better than in digital format.

Literary prejudice

This prejudice is based on literary productions and authors. The opinions and ideas that arise originate from a comment, the cover of the book, the title of the work or the genre to which it belongs, but not from the experience of having read or knowing all the content.

Example

Thinking that all science fiction or horror books have low quality content.