Thursday, August 7, 2008
3:42 AM
AQ 2 for Prejudice Reading Package
I feel that discrimination arising from stereotypes exist in Singapore. A prominent area is the education system. As mentioned by the author, “the backward-ball capped guys slumped in the back row of class are believed to have attitude problems”, which obviously is a form of discrimination based on outward appearances. No matter how much we dislike discrimination, it is difficult to emit it from our world today. In Singapore, one form of discrimination is based on the misconception that the tertiary educations in junior colleges are more superior to that of polytechnics. I feel that though this might be true in the past whereby polytechnics were not well-established, it is hardly true in today’s context. Today, polytechnics are a viable alternative to the rigid system of junior colleges and allow students to pursue their chosen career paths earlier on in life. For example, many straight ‘A’ scorers in o levels are starting to opt for polytechnics because they feel that it will help to build their career foundations. Therefore, I feel that polytechnics should not be looked down upon as inferior to junior colleges just because they break away from the traditional forms of education. If you have not noticed, isn’t the polytechnic system highly similar to that of the university curriculum?
Another area of discrimination based on stereotypes seen in the education system is the segregation of ‘the geeks’, ‘misfits’, ‘the popular’, ‘the sporty’ and so on in schools. Born looking different from others and you are branded weirdo or a misfit. Trying to improve your grades by being hardworking and conscientious and you are deemed as a geek, a mugger. I feel that this problem is so prevalent that it has to be addressed. Awareness must be raised on the detriments of stereotyping, especially in the negative aspects. Stereotyping a person as a geek or nerd might hurt their pride and self esteem, leading them to be emotionally affected. It is only when everyone learns how to accept each other for who they are that discrimination on stereotyping can be removed right from the roots. Till then, discrimination arising from stereotypes will still exist in Singapore.
Melissa
0 comments
