Is racism natural?

Question

I've heard some people say that being a little racist is just natural. In my opinion, that is total bullshit. But I'm curious to see what other people think.

Accepted Answer

Racism is taught. Nobody is born racist. Blonde hair is natural, racism is not. It's a learned behavior.

Answer

You're not born with it, it's learned!!

Answer

Racism is learned. Period.

Answer

To anyone who answers yes, please explain. Very interested to see everyone's views.

Answer

That's a conditioned response and nothing more. Now wanting to live in a predominantly Asian community because that's your heritage vs moving in to white people run suburbia- things like that are natural, wanting to be around culturally like minded people or only being sexually attracted to your race I think is natural. I think that's what people use to say "racism is natural"...but there's nothing natural in thinking that a fellow human is worth less than you are based on color or religion...

Answer

Are we talking about racism or bigotry? I feel as though a lot of words are being confused and it often muddies the argument/debate. The following definitions are simplified versions of the most agreed upon sociological definitions held by experts in the field.

Racism is a the systemic oppression through prejudice and discrimination based on biological differences between people. The oppression and discrimination can be overt or covert and is deeply entrenched into the systems in a society.

Bigotry is intolerance towards those perceived as difference.

Prejudices are deeply held individual beliefs about groups based on categorical commonalities (for example race, class, gender)

Discrimination is the practice of acting on those beliefs.

Answer

We're all different. Human nature makes us see differences with our eyes. I don't think racism has anything to do with that. Racism is something that's in your being, not your nature. No child that's born ever looks at a child of another color and hates them for it. So I don't think racism is natural, it's a learned behavior.

Answer

Racism is learned from parents, teachers, or people close to a child when they are young. Racism implies that you think a certain race is worse than yours for the simple fact that they are a different color. Prejudices can be somewhat natural. Seeing differences in people of certain races, genders, etc. can happen automatically. It is up to you to not act or judge based on those impressions or jump to conclusions. I guess what I am trying to say is that racism is definitely not natural and whoever told you that is unaware of the difference between racism, bigotry, and prejudice.

Answer

I don't think racism is the right term, but in a way YES. Not opening the window to racism, because the general meaning if that word is NOT OK.

Let me explain. As an infant you learn to recognize faces and aspect of the appearance of the people we see the most. Especially those who are rased in rather homogenous environments you can imagine that the faces recognized will be rather singular in their features. As humans we are also naturally fearful and apprehensive of anything we have not seen before. "A fear of strangers" which all babies experience at some point in their lives. And strangers more different from the usual faces in their environment will encode greater fear.

This fear of anything strange or unfamiliar will stay with us to some level and is a primal instinct which used to help us survive.

This is the basis that 'racism' comes from, but it has nothing to do with the hate that comes with it.

Answer

What?!! Racism is definetely taught

Is racism natural?

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