Discrimination is usually defined as a negative attitude towards other people based on prejudices and stereotypes regarding their gender or ethnicity. Stereotypes represent convictions regarding a particular community that is fixed in society. The primary distinction between a stereotype and a prejudice is that the former is based on experience but extrapolated on the whole group, while the latter is unjustified and hostile. Therefore, discrimination is based on both other phenomena, yet there is a distinct condition. Stereotypes and prejudices are common in every society, but it is a sense of superiority that pushes people toward discriminating against others. Historically, discrimination was a major issue for a long time, but the power dynamics have changed, as the civilized world promotes equality of all people.
Nevertheless, there is still much progress to make in that respect. According to statistics, African Americans are specifically targeted by law enforcement, getting harsher treatment and more severe penalties for their offenses than white people do. This fact is a manifestation of institutional racism, which is discrimination based on racial and ethnic identity. Overall, there has been significant progress in eliminating stereotyping and prejudice-based discrimination, but the issue remains, and it would take a considerable amount of work to eradicate it.
White-Collar Crime
White-Collar Crime is a non-violent offense committed by a person of high status, which is usually finance-related. The term was proposed by Edwin Sutherland, Professor of Sociology, 29th President American Sociological Society. There are three conditions, upon which a crime is deemed White-Collar. First, the offense must be committed in the course of the perpetrator’s work. Second, the offender’s occupation is crucial to the crime in question, and, finally, the job must be legitimate. Generally, such cases are treated differently due to the offender’s high social status and the public’s perception of the issue.
Insider trading, fraud, and bribery are the primary types of White Collar crimes. Their distinct features are that they are non-violent, i.e., there is no direct threat to a person’s life and well-being. As far a White Collar crimes are concerned, the victim is usually not an individual but a company or the state in general. Illegal activities lead to the misuse of an organization’s assets, having a negative impact on the company’s overall financial condition. Tax fraud deprives the state’s budget of the money it was supposed to receive per legislation and, consequently, harms the country’s citizens.
Privilege: Race, Class, and Gender
Stereotyping and prejudice-fueled discrimination has created a phenomenon known as privilege. Naturally, when one group is mistreated due to its ethnic or gender identity, the other ends up having a head start and an a priori positive attitude. The privilege principle dictates that one group is entitled to better treatment than others. Racial privilege is another side of institutional racism when the oppressed are deprived of opportunities, while the privileged find it easier to succeed in life. According to the US Department of Justice, African Americans and Hispanics have amounted for two-thirds of all drug-related convictions since 1980, meaning that people of those minority groups are more likely to be racially profiled. At the same time, law enforcement sees Caucasian individuals as less suspicious, which is one of the white privilege aspects.
Class privilege derives from the crucial role money plays in today’s society. Higher-class people are capable of paying larger sums, which provides them access to the best-quality healthcare, education, and other services. This might be possible at the expense of lower-class representatives, as their services do not get enough attention. In other words, resources are spent on those who can afford it. Gender privilege is another topical issue, as it implies male superiority in all areas, thus providing them with significant advantages. The wage gap is a case in point because gender privilege suggests that men are entitled to earning money, whereas women should focus on house chores. This injustice has inspired feminist ideas across the globe, as well as other movements promoting equality of all people.