Our upbringing, environment and personal experiences often shape our beliefs and opinions. However, without realizing it, we may hold biases that limit our ability to see the world objectively. By actively questioning our biases, we open ourselves to growth, learning, and deeper understanding.
So, What is Prejudice
Prejudice is when you see a person and have preconceived notions about them without knowing them. For example, if a guy is tough-looking, with a beard and tattoos, you might naturally assume that he is dangerous. In my culture, I was taught that people with tattoos are bad and should be avoided.
However, as I grew up, I was exposed to different perspectives that challenged these assumptions. I was shocked and ashamed to realize that, despite thinking I was open-minded, I still held biases against people based on their appearance, lifestyle, or background.
What we think and how we act in reality may not always align. I have learned this vital lesson from my mistakes.
Prejudice makes us ignorant, narcissistic, and stubborn. It affects people in all aspects of life—work, relationships, and social interactions. We accumulate biases as we grow up, learning them from parents, friends, experiences, and the internet.
In today’s digital age, PrejudicePrejudice spreads more efficiently than ever. The internet allows anyone to share their opinions, whether accurate or not, and people who come across these opinions may adopt them as their own, often without realizing it.
Take my experience, for example. I live in a country with three major races: Chinese, Malay, and Indian. Generally, people here are friendly, and we coexist peacefully.
However, when someone from a particular race posts harmful content about another race, it can reinforce existing biases. Viewers who relate to the content may start generalizing and believing that an entire race behaves in a certain way. Over time, these prejudices influence who they choose to befriend, work with, or trust.
Our background, culture, and upbringing have the most significant impact on the prejudices we develop. We grow up surrounded by family and friends with similar beliefs and lifestyles, often ‘inheriting’ their attitudes. Suppose a parent holds a negative view of a particular religion. In that case, they may pass that bias onto their children, shaping their perceptions before they even have a chance to form their own opinions.
How Do We Recognize and Overcome Prejudice?
The first step is self-awareness. Have you ever caught yourself with a prejudice you didn’t realize before? This realization is a powerful tool for recognizing and overcoming biases, empowering you to take control of your personal development. For example, Some people only realize their prejudice after experiencing unfair treatment, which prompts them to reflect and acknowledge their biases.
So, what is the most effective way to challenge our biases? One of the best approaches is exposing ourselves to different perspectives, such as meeting new people. Engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs broadens our worldview while listening to their experiences and stories helps us understand realities beyond our own.
On the other hand, visiting different places exposes us to new customs, traditions, and ways of thinking can help us break stereotypes and foster empathy by allowing us to experience life differently. Other ways, like reading various sources of books, articles, and media, can also challenge preconceived notions.
For me, I overcame prejudice by developing critical thinking; before I learned the skill, I didn’t care or realize the content that I absorbed from the external world because it is just something people say, post, or write. What does it matter? I will unthinkingly follow what people say and write and whatever they tell me to do or what they think is true or makes sense.
But as I meet new people and am exposed to new environments, I realize there are many things I didn’t know before, and I feel stupid and ignorant. That was when I decided it was time to make a change. I practiced some ways to develop this skill by fact-checking before forming opinions; the abundance of online information makes it easy to believe misinformation.
Before accepting a claim, verify it through credible sources. I know this takes a lot of effort and time. Trust me; I’ve been there before. I was tired, lazy, and lacked the energy to do this, but whenever I thought of giving up, I would think, what if I faced the problem and mindlessly followed whatever I learned from those sources without checking what would happen?
Here is a quote I want to share:
“Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” – John F. Kennedy
Recognizing cognitive biases is another way to overcome prejudice. Cognitive biases mean that our brains tend to favor information that aligns with our existing beliefs (confirmation bias).
Being aware of this tendency allows us to actively seek opposing viewpoints. I’m still learning this because it’s easy to accept what we love and like to hear but hard to accept the opposite opinion from others.
My final thought is that questioning our biases is an ongoing process that requires continuous effort and self-awareness. Acknowledging our own prejudices can be uncomfortable at first, but it also broadens our perspective, helping us become more open to different viewpoints and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.