If given the chance to change something about yourself what would it be?

Common answers to this common question –which we might also answer if confronted with this type of question would be to have a flawless skin or to achieve sexy body. Some would probably answer to have whiter teeth, fair skin complexion, straight legs, and to have a 6-foot height.

But the question here is not about WHAT we want actually but WHY? Why would someone wish to have that perfect body or that certain height? Why would someone desire to have that skin complexion or that picture perfect teeth. Is it because we want to have a better version of ourselves? Is it because we want to have a physical appearance that fits in a materialistic and narcissistic generation? Or is it because we are just afraid to be humiliated?

Those answers that we just mentioned all goes down to our fear to experience prejudice. We want to have slimmer or sexy bodies because that is the qualification of this judgmental society and we do not want to be left out. We want to fit in because those who cannot fit in are bullied and those who are not that attractive are humiliated subtly and overtly. And I just want to stress out that it is not us letting to be our better selves. It is us letting the society dictates us. It us fearing negative comments and negative behaviors to be directed towards us. It is us fearing prejudices.

Let us consider some striking examples of where prejudice often occurs like in the context of religion, obesity and sexual orientation.

In the context of religion, Christians and Muslims for example, when there is a devastating tragedy like bombing, all fingers are pointed towards the Muslims and never on the Catholics. It is because it has been said the Muslims are capable of doing such brutal things and Catholics are not. (I may sound too rude here but this is the reality.) And I guess that is partly be the reason why people living outside Mindanao for example are afraid going to Mindanao because they are thinking that Muslims are terrorists. Here we can see prejudice.

Another would be in the quest of choosing Miss Philippines, why would everyone turn their head other than a very fat lady? Is it because she is fat that means she automatically cannot win the pageant and certainly cannot bring home the crown? Here we can say that prejudice is still evident.

What is Prejudice?

Prejudice is an attitude -which is usually negative towards a person solely because that person belongs to a certain group. In simple terms, this is a prejudgment towards a person without even acquiring information or no knowledge at all.

One of the reasons why prejudice emerged or developed it is because of the stereotype we have for other people. STEREOTYPES are developed as a product of learning and experience. In example, if you encountered a homeless stranger who happens to be gay and you let this stranger come over to your house and out of kindness you dress him, you give him food and etc. But surprisingly that stranger stole your money including your valuable stuffs. Out from that experience you learned not to trust gays and probably stereotyping that gays are thieves.

In that sense, stereotype is indeed an overgeneralization. It is like saying all eggs are good. In a dozen of eggs we cannot be so sure that all of it is good. There could still be stale
eggs on it. We are just overgeneralizing it.

The same principle we unintentionally applied to people. Say for example, in the context of sexual orientation. Why would someone choose male over female. It is because in choosing a leader we see males as someone who is more decisive and more strong-willed. Women, on the other hand, we see them as too weak, too sensitive, too emotional to be a leader. That is what many people think of it. But that is not always the case of course. But there in that scenario we can see how a stereotype breeds prejudice.

However, the danger of living in a STEREOTYPE is the possibility that we will develop PREJUDICE among other people and worse is to engage in what we call DISCRIMINATION.

Indeed, prejudice is a social disease affecting the lives of many for many generations. We may be totally unaware but this is still an issue that needs to be addressed. I believed firmly that this social issue cannot be eliminated but can be minimized. It is not too late. Let us start accepting and embracing our own differences so that we will make this world a better place to live in. I myself alone cannot achieve this change. You and I. All of us we have to do it

Photo sources:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

Thanks for reading!