Sociological theory applied to equal opportunities: Prejudice

The idea

Prejudice is a preconceived attitude or feeling, usually negative, towards a person or group based on characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, disability, age or social class. It is an internal judgement formed before evidence and can persist even when facts contradict it. In sport, prejudice may appear when a coach assumes a disabled athlete cannot compete at an elite level, or when selectors favour one group over another. Prejudice differs from stereotyping, which is a generalised belief, and from discrimination, which is the unequal treatment that may follow. Sociological theory applied to equal opportunities examines how prejudice creates barriers, how it can be measured through attitudes and behaviour, and how education, policy and contact can reduce it.

What earns the marks

• Defines prejudice as a preconceived attitude or feeling towards a person or group, often based on limited evidence.
• Explains that prejudice is an attitude, not necessarily an action, and can be positive or negative though usually negative in this context.
• Links prejudice to unequal opportunity in sport, for example through biased selection, coaching expectations or media framing.
• Distinguishes prejudice from stereotyping and discrimination: stereotype is a belief, prejudice is an attitude, discrimination is behaviour.
• Uses a sporting example to show how prejudice can limit participation or progression and how it might be challenged.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing prejudice with discrimination.

  Put it right: Prejudice is an attitude or feeling, while discrimination is the unequal treatment or behaviour that may result from it.

• Assuming prejudice is always based on hatred.

  Put it right: Prejudice can be a mild or unconscious bias formed without full evidence, yet it can still create barriers.

• Believing prejudice is only about race or gender.

  Put it right: Prejudice can relate to any social characteristic, including disability, age, religion, sexuality and social class.

• Thinking prejudice is fixed and cannot change.

  Put it right: Attitudes can shift through education, positive contact and inclusive sporting experiences.

Exam tips

• Look for the word 'attitude' or 'feeling' in options to identify prejudice rather than stereotyping or discrimination.
• Reject options that describe an action or policy; those are more likely to be discrimination or equal-opportunity practice.
• Use the stem's sporting context to check whether the option explains a barrier to equal opportunity.