When you look at the definition of bigotry, it isn’t that different from prejudice. Bigotry and prejudice are both negative forms of discrimination. While they may sound similar, they are not the same thing. There are subtle differences between the two, but they both have the same goal.
Bigotry vs Prejudice
The main difference between Bigotry and prejudice lies in the conscious choice to feel these feelings. Bigotry is a conscious choice to hate something or someone and think oneself to be superior, while prejudice is a pre-existing feeling. It has been instilled before knowing the person or thing in reality.
Bigotry is when a person or group of people has an intense, irrational prejudice against another group of people. This prejudice can come in many different forms. It can be based on race, gender, caste, class, sexual orientation, or other social groupings. It is generally a negative term.
Prejudice is a feeling of dislike for a person or group of people without really knowing them. This can be about their gender, beliefs, age, sexual orientation, race, or culture. It’s prejudice if you stop being friends with someone because they belong to one of the groups mentioned above. Thus, prejudice is pre-conceived.
Comparison Table Between Bigotry and Prejudice
| Parameters of Comparison | Bigotry | Prejudice |
| Nature | Bigotry is an extremely negative feeling | Prejudice is a negative feeling but not to the extent of Bigotry. |
| Meaning | A feeling of being intolerant to someone or something is called bigotry but it is usually based on a certain reason. | Prejudice is a preconceived opinion that one has about a person or thing. |
| Extremity | It is more extreme than Prejudice. | It is not as extreme as bigotry. |
| Judgment | Bigotry leads to the judgment of the person or thing being disliked. | Prejudice arises from judging someone or something. |
| Expression | Bigotry is usually expressed vocally. | Prejudice is not always expressed openly. |
What is Bigotry?
You might hear the word “bigot” used as a negative term when referring to a person or group who has prejudiced feelings towards one or more specific races or ethnicities.
Bigotry can refer to a person who is intolerant and feels superior to any other group of people. They often want to take control over the minority group’s culture and lifestyle and don’t want them to have the same rights as the majority.
Bigotry is a strong and often negative term that insinuates that someone is full of hate and close-minded. A bigot is a person who is intolerant of any opinions and beliefs that differ from his or her own. Often, bigots will go out of their way to voice their opinions and beliefs in a negative, judgmental way.
On the other hand, someone who is prejudiced is someone who judges a person based on their race, religion, or other aspects of their character. Prejudice and bigotry are often used interchangeably and incorrectly. Prejudice means to judge someone based on prior beliefs, while bigotry means to judge them based on their actions. When you’re prejudiced, you are a bigot. However, not all bigots are prejudiced.
What is Prejudice?
Prejudice is often not a conscious choice. It is an internal feeling of dislike towards someone just because they belong to one of the groups. Prejudice is not the same as discrimination. It is not always a discriminatory act. It can simply be a feeling of dislike or even hostility towards a person or a group without any action or intent involved.
Prejudice is a belief without reason. It is usually made without looking at all the facts in the matter. This prejudice can be seen everywhere around you. For example, prejudice is when someone says that one race is better than another race. No matter what your race is, you are still a human being.
The word prejudice is often used to describe feelings of bigotry and negativity, but this is not always the case. Prejudice can simply be the discrimination of the different. Prejudice is when you make an assumption about somebody or something without having any real evidence or facts.
Prejudice can occur based on someone’s race, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation. This is a serious issue and one that needs to be tackled in politics, the media, and in everybody’s personal life. The first step to tackling prejudice is by dismissing your own preconceived notions.
Main Differences Between Bigotry and Prejudice
- Bigotry is a very strong dislike of something or someone. Prejudice is a pre-existing judgment of something or someone that can lead to bigotry.
- Bigotry is a strong and bitter hatred toward those who are perceived to be of a different race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Prejudice, on the other hand, is the negative judgment of a person based solely on their affiliation with a certain group.
- Bigotry arises after you make an opinion of something consciously. Prejudice comes from the word ‘pre-judge’. Which means you judge the person before getting to know them.
- Bigotry is a stronger form of prejudice. Bigotry is usually a lot more extreme than Prejudice.
- In addition to judging others, bigoted people often condemn other people and make negative statements. Prejudiced people usually limit themselves to judging.
Conclusion
A bigot is an intolerant person who is bound to or irrationally dedicated to his/her own opinions and prejudices; especially one who regards or treats the members of a certain group as inherently inferior to the members of his or her group or the group that he or she is aware of as dominant. However, a prejudiced person is biased in favor of or against a person or thing based on experience or on stereotypes.
People can be prejudiced based on many things. It is important to remember that intolerance is never the answer and to try to work together with people who are different from you.
References
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=_STPJNHE5fAC&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=bigotry&ots=i34HwCDvmS&sig=041j0n0r-espCJw7wJVdSlY1GiE
- http://althaschool.org/_cache/files/7/1/71f96bdb-d4c3-4514-bae2-9bf809ba9edc/97F5FE75CF9A120E7DC108EB1B0FF5EC.holocaust-the-nature-of-prejudice.doc