Stereotyping

Abstract

Chapter 3 argued that discriminationdiscrimination is distinguishable from other forms of injusticeinjustice because it embodies, and puts to work, an interpretation of its victims. In discrimination individuals are systematically disadvantaged as members of independently identifiable groups. Nevertheless, there are contexts (such as selling insuranceinsurance ) in which it is considered permissible to make such judgements about individuals, which lead to their being systematically disadvantaged, but which we do not consider discriminatory. Consideration of these potential counterexamples highlights the role of stereotyping stereotyping in discrimination. In addition to being a factor in discrimination, stereotyping proves to be an interpretive moral wrong in its own right. Stereotyped judgements made about individuals as members of identifiable social groups may be true or false, but are not morally innocent on the condition that they are true, since they may involve judging individuals on the basis of factors that affect them only as a matter of regrettable historical contingency.