People exhibit bigoted behavior when they do not tolerate or feel enabled to hurt certain groups based on a particular characteristic. It can be gender, race, religion, or another basis, but regardless of the reason, some society members will feel inferior. Such phenomena as sexism and racism are widespread, meaning that it is not an individual problem but something that exists on a social level. However, it does not mean that a single person cannot fight those vices and contribute to increased tolerance in society.
Several studies link social tolerance with various forms of discrimination. Balint (2015) explains that while racial tolerance is not sufficient to combat racism, it addresses some of its elements, including the core. The anti-racist strategies that can decrease intolerance are also suggested, and indifference is highlighted as “the most ideal” (Balint, 2015, p. 22). Mallet et al. (2016) discuss humor’s role in enabling sexism and emphasize that sexist behavior is accepted due to high tolerance to sexual harassment and other aspects. Therefore, it can be said that society can be tolerant of discrimination, too. Duque et al. (2018) report how social tolerance and diversity in a particular region may provoke social stress in an individual, prompting them to commit crimes. It may also signify that while smaller communities may be tolerant, society as a whole may still have elements that allow people to feel justified in their unacceptance of others. In general, it appears that society lacks tolerance of certain groups but accepts various kinds of discrimination, which is an issue to consider.
The purpose of the proposed research is to discover how people perceive tolerance in relation to discrimination and the promotion of violence. It can be done by using the discussed studies and organizing a separate one, which can be conducted through surveying. The participants can be asked to name the causes of a particular type of discrimination, describe their tolerance to positive and negative social phenomena, suggest their solutions, and comment on the existing ones.
References
Balint, P. (2015). The importance of racial tolerance for anti-racism. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 39(1), 16–32. Web.
Duque, R. B., LeBlanc, E. J., & Rivera, R. (2018). Predicting active shooter events: Are regional homogeneity, intolerance, dull lives, and more guns enough deterrence? Crime & Delinquency, 65(9), 1218–1261.
Mallett, R. K., Ford, T. E., & Woodzicka, J. A. (2016). What did he mean by that? Humor decreases attributions of sexism and confrontation of sexist jokes. Sex Roles, 75(5-6), 272–284.