When Beliefs Become Actions: Understanding the Link Between Bigotry and Discrimination

Bigotry and discrimination are terms that are often used interchangeably in discussions about prejudice, yet they have distinct meanings and implications. Both stem from prejudiced attitudes, but they differ in their manifestations—bigotry is primarily an internal mindset, while discrimination involves external actions or behaviors. This distinction is crucial in understanding how bigotry operates both at the personal and systemic levels.

?

Bigotry refers to an irrational, often unshakable intolerance toward individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, religion, nationality, gender, or sexual identity or orientation and more. This intolerance is fueled by deep-seated beliefs that are resistant to change, even when presented with contrary evidence. Bigotry is usually a personal, emotional response and is not always accompanied by outward actions. It can manifest through hostile thoughts, derogatory language, or negative stereotypes.?

?

One famous example of bigotry can be found in the history of racial segregation in the United States. While some individuals actively worked to promote discriminatory policies, others harbored bigoted views without engaging in direct actions to harm people of color. However, their personal beliefs contributed to a culture of racial intolerance that perpetuated segregation for decades.?

?

Psychologist Gordon Allport, in his influential work The Nature of Prejudice, highlighted how bigotry is often driven by a fear of the unknown or a need to protect one's own in-group. People who harbor bigoted views may refuse to interact with individuals from different groups, not because they have personally been harmed by them, but because they perceive them as a threat to their values, culture, or identity.

?

Discrimination, on the other hand, is the tangible manifestation of prejudice and bigotry through actions or behaviors that unfairly treat individuals or groups. Discrimination occurs when people act on their prejudices, consciously or unconsciously, and create unequal conditions for certain individuals. Unlike bigotry, which may be limited to thoughts and attitudes, discrimination directly affects people’s lives, opportunities, and well-being.

?

Discrimination can take various forms, including institutional, systemic, or individual. Institutional discrimination refers to policies or practices within organizations or governments that disproportionately disadvantage certain groups. For example, during the Jim Crow era in the United States, laws explicitly discriminated against African Americans by segregating public spaces and denying voting rights.??A resurgence of blocking Black voters and others can be evidenced by gerrymandering voting districts and closing voting locations.??Systemic discrimination involves ingrained societal norms and structures that perpetuate inequality even when there are no explicit discriminatory laws in place. Another modern example is the racial wealth gap in the United States, which persists due to historic and ongoing discrimination in housing, education, and employment.

?

Individual discrimination refers to personal actions that disadvantage others based on their identity. An example might be an employer who refuses to hire a qualified candidate because of their ethnicity or a landlord who declines to rent to someone based on their religion. Although these forms of discrimination may be based on personal bigotry, they do not always stem from deep-seated hate; sometimes, individuals participate in discriminatory practices without holding explicitly bigoted views due to unconscious biases or social pressures.

?

The most significant difference between bigotry and discrimination is that bigotry exists primarily as an internal belief, while discrimination manifests as external actions. A person may be a bigot, holding deeply prejudiced beliefs, but never act on those beliefs in ways that harm others. Conversely, a person might engage in discriminatory behavior due to societal norms or unconscious bias without harboring personal bigotry.

?

Research shows that discrimination can occur even in the absence of overt bigotry. For instance, a 2017 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology demonstrated that people could engage in discriminatory behavior due to implicit biases—automatic associations that influence decisions without conscious awareness. In hiring practices, for example, resumes with traditionally white-sounding names are often preferred over those with Black-sounding names, even when the qualifications are identical. This form of discrimination may not be driven by personal hatred or bigotry but by ingrained stereotypes.

?

Despite their differences, bigotry and discrimination are closely connected. Bigotry often fuels discriminatory behavior, and in many cases, discriminatory systems help to reinforce bigoted attitudes. In environments where discriminatory practices are institutionalized or normalized, individuals may feel emboldened to express their bigotry more openly. The relationship between bigotry and discrimination can create a vicious cycle, where one perpetuates the other.

?

For example, during apartheid in South Africa, a system of institutional discrimination was established to maintain racial segregation and white supremacy. The existence of these discriminatory laws reinforced bigoted views among the white population, who believed that racial separation was justified. At the same time, bigotry among individuals helped maintain the system of apartheid by discouraging social integration and justifying ongoing oppression.

?

It is important to note that not all bigotry leads to overt discrimination, and not all discrimination is the result of personal bigotry. For instance, some individuals may harbor bigoted thoughts but refrain from acting on them, whether due to social pressures, fear of repercussions, or personal values. In these cases, bigotry remains an internalized belief rather than an outward action.

?

Conversely, discrimination can occur in the absence of personal bigotry. Systemic discrimination, as mentioned earlier, is often a result of structural inequalities that disadvantage certain groups, even when individuals within the system do not harbor personal animosity toward those groups. For example, the practice of redlining in the United States, where banks refused to offer loans to people in predominantly Black neighborhoods, was a form of systemic discrimination. It wasn't necessarily carried out by individuals with overtly bigoted views but was a result of institutional practices that perpetuated inequality.

?

Bigotry and discrimination are two sides of the same coin, both rooted in prejudice but manifesting in different ways. Bigotry reflects an internalized intolerance or hatred for certain groups, while discrimination involves actions that create unequal opportunities or treatment. Although they are distinct, they often reinforce one another, contributing to a cycle of bias that affects individuals and societies. Addressing both bigotry and discrimination requires not only challenging harmful actions but also changing the underlying beliefs and systems that support them. Understanding these differences and similarities is key to supporting change. Take the first step by talking and listening to someone whose views differ from your own.