Question

How does assigning a name to physical attributes perpetuate discrimination in society?

Answer 1

Answer.

Assigning a name to physical attributes such as skin colour, disability, sexual differences, physique, etc is identified as the process of labelling. Labelling creates a chain of social processes which lead to negative consequences for the individual’s or groups who are targeted by the labels. By assigning labels such as ‘fat’, ‘ skinny’, ‘Black- White’, ‘ macho’ or ‘feminine’, society tends to identify and group individuals based on their social categories which are defined by the labels rather than their personal and unique traits and achievements. As a result, labelling increases the tendency towards stereotyping and prejudice as it promotes re oversimplified ideas about groups of people based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation.