What are prejudices? They are a pre-conceived ideas or preferences...... Negative attitudes towards members of a group.....Stereo-type beliefs......Judgements, biases, assumptions made about someone or something before having adequate knowledge to guarantee accuracy.
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices" William Jones"
Prejudices can be about Race, Religion, Sexual orientation, Obesity, Mental Illness, Careers and Art amongst other things but where do our prejudices start and how to we reduce them? Social attitudes learnt from parents and teachers shape the way children value their differences they perceive so improving diversity and changing attitutudes at an early age could help. (It is amazing what children know or distinguish at the age of 6 months!). We all have opinions about things but also have hidden biases about certain subjects but should open our minds and get rid of these pre-conceived ideas, stigma or judgements of the past. What comes out of your mouth or changing irrational attitudes can all be stopped if we think before we speak or act.
Mother Teresa wrote "If you judge people - you have no time to love them" and Indira Gandhi wrote " We cannot shake hands with a clenched fist"......so true! They are both really saying.....Get rid of your pre-conceived notions/ideas and unlock the door to wisdom.
It is natural to develop prejudices. I do, however, think it is a good idea to voice some prejudices. I personally have some about 'women's rights and equality' (to do with religion) and think that it will take years and years to attain equality and fairness. One should try and voice an opionion when we can.......I will write about that in another BLOG!!
Have a good week ahead as January heads into February! Happy Days!!
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