Social Science ยท Civics Polity

Social Inequality and Discrimination

2,011 Questions

Social inequality and discrimination involve the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities based on race, class, or gender. These concepts are frequently tested in UPSC, state PSC, and SSC exams. Practicing these questions helps clarify key sociological theories and structural challenges.

Environmental racism conceptsRacial prejudice strategiesWorkplace discrimination policiesMedia representation issuesSocial equality principles

Social Inequality and Discrimination Questions

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the systematic killing of a large group of people?

  1. Genocide

  2. Holocaust

  3. Ethnic cleansing

  4. Mass murder
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Genocide is the intentional killing of a large group of people, typically based on their ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs.

Multiple choice

Prejudice is more likely to occur when:

  1. People have negative attitudes towards a group

  2. People are motivated to discriminate against a group

  3. People are exposed to negative information about a group

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Prejudice is more likely to occur when people have negative attitudes towards a group, are motivated to discriminate against a group, and are exposed to negative information about a group.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute certain emotions to specific racial groups?

  1. Racial bias

  2. Racial stereotyping

  3. Racial profiling

  4. Racial discrimination
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Racial stereotyping refers to the tendency to attribute certain characteristics, including emotions, to individuals based on their race or ethnicity.

Multiple choice

Which emotion is often associated with experiences of racial discrimination?

  1. Anger

  2. Sadness

  3. Fear

  4. Guilt
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Anger is a common emotional response to experiences of racial discrimination, as it can be a natural reaction to feeling wronged or mistreated.

Multiple choice

Which emotion is often associated with experiences of racial microaggressions?

  1. Anger

  2. Sadness

  3. Fear

  4. Frustration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Frustration is a common emotional response to experiences of racial microaggressions, as these subtle forms of discrimination can be difficult to address and can lead to feelings of powerlessness and annoyance.

Multiple choice

Which emotion is often associated with experiences of racial discrimination?

  1. Anger

  2. Sadness

  3. Fear

  4. Shame
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Shame is a common emotional response to experiences of racial discrimination, as it can be a natural reaction to feeling inferior or unworthy due to one's race or ethnicity.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of political correctness gone too far?

  1. A company changing its name to avoid using a potentially offensive word

  2. A university banning the use of certain words or phrases in its classrooms

  3. A government agency issuing guidelines on how to avoid using offensive language

  4. A group of people protesting against a comedian for making offensive jokes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Some people argue that political correctness has gone too far when it leads to censorship or restrictions on freedom of speech. Banning the use of certain words or phrases in a university classroom is an example of this.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a politically correct term?

  1. African American

  2. Negro

  3. Colored person

  4. Black person
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The term 'African American' is generally considered to be a politically correct term for people of African descent in the United States. The terms 'Negro' and 'colored person' are considered to be outdated and offensive, while the term 'black person' is sometimes seen as too broad and impersonal.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a politically incorrect term?

  1. Differently abled

  2. Handicapped

  3. Crippled

  4. Disabled
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The term 'crippled' is generally considered to be a politically incorrect term for people with disabilities. The terms 'differently abled' and 'handicapped' are also considered to be outdated, while the term 'disabled' is the most widely accepted and politically correct term.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the systematic elimination of a particular group of people based on their race, ethnicity, or religion?

  1. Genocide

  2. Ethnic cleansing

  3. Mass murder

  4. War crimes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Genocide is the systematic elimination of a particular group of people based on their race, ethnicity, or religion. It is a crime against humanity and has been perpetrated by totalitarian regimes throughout history.

Multiple choice

What are the social implications of the concept of purity and pollution in Indian philosophy of race?

  1. It leads to discrimination and inequality.

  2. It promotes social harmony and cooperation.

  3. It has no significant impact on society.

  4. None of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The concept of purity and pollution in Indian philosophy of race has significant social implications. It leads to discrimination and inequality, as people from different social groups are treated differently based on their perceived purity or pollution. This can result in social tensions, conflict, and injustice.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the discrimination or prejudice against LGBTQ+ individuals?

  1. Homophobia

  2. Transphobia

  3. Biphobia

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia are terms used to describe the prejudice, discrimination, and hatred directed towards LGBTQ+ individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the practice of representing marginalized communities in art in a way that reinforces stereotypes and prejudices?

  1. Cultural Appropriation

  2. Tokenism

  3. Orientalism

  4. Minstrel Show
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Minstrel shows were a form of entertainment popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring white performers in blackface makeup who caricatured and mocked African Americans.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a key principle of affirmative action?

  1. Providing equal opportunities to historically disadvantaged groups

  2. Correcting past discrimination and its lingering effects

  3. Promoting diversity and inclusion in various sectors

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Affirmative action aims to provide equal opportunities to historically disadvantaged groups, correct past discrimination and its lingering effects, and promote diversity and inclusion in various sectors.

Multiple choice

What is the primary mechanism through which racism perpetuates itself in society?

  1. Economic Inequality

  2. Political Power Structures

  3. Cultural Stereotypes

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Racism is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that manifests itself through economic, political, and cultural mechanisms, reinforcing and perpetuating social inequalities.