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

Which social class is most likely to experience discrimination and prejudice?

  1. Upper class

  2. Middle class

  3. Working class

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

The lower class is disproportionately affected by discrimination and prejudice compared to other social classes.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the long-lasting effects of slavery on individuals, communities, and societies?

  1. Post-slavery trauma

  2. Legacy of slavery

  3. Slavery's aftermath

  4. Slavery's impact
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The term 'legacy of slavery' encompasses the enduring consequences and effects of slavery on individuals, communities, and societies, including systemic racism, inequality, and discrimination.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the systemic discrimination against people of color in the United States?

  1. Institutional racism

  2. Structural racism

  3. Systemic racism

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

Institutional racism, structural racism, and systemic racism are all terms used to describe the systemic discrimination against people of color in the United States.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the mass incarceration of people of color in the United States?

  1. Mass incarceration

  2. Prison industrial complex

  3. New Jim Crow

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

Mass incarceration, prison industrial complex, and New Jim Crow are all terms used to describe the mass incarceration of people of color in the United States.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the idea that the United States is a nation founded on both freedom and slavery?

  1. Dual heritage

  2. Double consciousness

  3. Racial paradox

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

Dual heritage, double consciousness, and racial paradox are all terms used to describe the idea that the United States is a nation founded on both freedom and slavery.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the idea that race is a social construct rather than a biological reality?

  1. Social constructivism

  2. Racial essentialism

  3. Scientific racism

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

Social constructivism is the idea that race is a social construct rather than a biological reality.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the idea that racism is a system of power and privilege that benefits white people at the expense of people of color?

  1. Critical race theory

  2. White privilege

  3. Institutional racism

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

Critical race theory, white privilege, and institutional racism are all terms used to describe the idea that racism is a system of power and privilege that benefits white people at the expense of people of color.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the idea that reparations should be paid to descendants of enslaved people as a form of compensation for the harms caused by slavery?

  1. Reparations

  2. Restorative justice

  3. Racial justice

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

Reparations, restorative justice, and racial justice are all terms used to describe the idea that reparations should be paid to descendants of enslaved people as a form of compensation for the harms caused by slavery.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the disproportionate impact of environmental pollution on low-income and minority communities?

  1. Environmental racism

  2. Environmental injustice

  3. Environmental degradation

  4. Environmental inequality
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Environmental injustice refers to the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by marginalized communities, including exposure to air pollution.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the practice of representing a group of people in a way that is not accurate or respectful?

  1. Misrepresentation

  2. Stereotyping

  3. Tokenism

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

Misrepresentation is the practice of representing a group of people in a way that is not accurate or respectful. This can include stereotypes, tokenism, and whitewashing.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the practice of including a small number of members of a minority group in a work of literature or media in order to give the appearance of diversity?

  1. Stereotyping

  2. Tokenism

  3. Misrepresentation

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

Tokenism is the practice of including a small number of members of a minority group in a work of literature or media in order to give the appearance of diversity. This can be harmful as it suggests that the inclusion of these characters is simply a token gesture.

Multiple choice

What are the three main types of sentencing disparities?

  1. Racial disparities, ethnic disparities, and gender disparities

  2. Socioeconomic disparities, educational disparities, and employment disparities

  3. Urban disparities, rural disparities, and suburban disparities

  4. Age disparities, health disparities, and disability disparities
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The three main types of sentencing disparities are racial disparities, ethnic disparities, and gender disparities.

Multiple choice

What are the three main causes of sentencing disparities?

  1. Bias, discrimination, and prejudice

  2. Lack of resources, lack of training, and lack of experience

  3. Political pressure, public opinion, and media coverage

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

The three main causes of sentencing disparities are bias, discrimination, and prejudice; lack of resources, lack of training, and lack of experience; and political pressure, public opinion, and media coverage.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to racial differences in wages and salaries?

  1. Discrimination

  2. Education

  3. Occupation

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

Experience is not a factor that contributes to racial differences in wages and salaries. Discrimination, education, and occupation are all factors that can contribute to these differences.

Multiple choice

Which racial group in the United States has the highest median household income?

  1. White

  2. Black

  3. Hispanic

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

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income for White households in 2020 was \$79,900, compared to \$42,700 for Black households, \$57,600 for Hispanic households, and \$97,300 for Asian households.