Social Science ยท Civics Polity

Social Inequality and Discrimination

1,938 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 belief that one's own race is superior to others?

  1. Racism

  2. Ethnocentrism

  3. Xenophobia

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

Racism is the belief that one's own race is superior to others. It is a form of discrimination that can lead to prejudice, hatred, and violence.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process of gradually eliminating racial discrimination and prejudice?

  1. Desegregation

  2. Integration

  3. Affirmative action

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

Desegregation is the process of gradually eliminating racial discrimination and prejudice. It involves the removal of barriers that separate people of different races and the promotion of equal opportunities for all.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the belief that all races are equal and should be treated with respect?

  1. Racial equality

  2. Racial justice

  3. Racial harmony

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

Racial equality is the belief that all races are equal and should be treated with respect. It is a fundamental human right that is essential for a just and peaceful society.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the practice of assigning social status and privileges based on an individual's caste?

  1. Casteism

  2. Discrimination

  3. Segregation

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

Casteism refers to the practice of assigning social status and privileges based on an individual's caste, often leading to discrimination and social inequality.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where children from low-income families are more likely to drop out of school than children from high-income families?

  1. The achievement gap

  2. The poverty gap

  3. The dropout gap

  4. The opportunity gap
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The dropout gap is the term used to describe the phenomenon where children from low-income families are more likely to drop out of school than children from high-income families.

Multiple choice

Which racial group in the United States historically experiences the highest unemployment rates?

  1. White

  2. Black

  3. Hispanic

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

African Americans or Black people have faced persistent and historically high unemployment rates compared to other racial groups in the United States.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the persistent gap in unemployment rates between different racial groups?

  1. Racial Unemployment Gap

  2. Racial Wage Gap

  3. Racial Wealth Gap

  4. Racial Education Gap
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Racial Unemployment Gap refers specifically to the disparity in unemployment rates between different racial groups.

Multiple choice

Which factor is considered a significant contributor to racial differences in unemployment?

  1. Educational Attainment

  2. Job Discrimination

  3. Lack of Affordable Housing

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

Job discrimination, whether intentional or unintentional, can limit employment opportunities for certain racial groups.

Multiple choice

Which policy initiative aims to address racial disparities in unemployment by providing job training and placement assistance?

  1. Affirmative Action

  2. Equal Employment Opportunity

  3. Workforce Development Programs

  4. Fair Housing Act
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Workforce Development Programs are designed to provide skills training, job placement assistance, and other support services to help individuals, including those from marginalized communities, find employment.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the practice of hiring and promoting individuals based on their race or ethnicity?

  1. Affirmative Action

  2. Equal Employment Opportunity

  3. Racial Profiling

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

Affirmative Action policies aim to address historical discrimination by promoting equal opportunity in employment and education.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where employers tend to hire individuals from their own racial or ethnic group?

  1. Racial Profiling

  2. Racial Segregation

  3. Racial Homophily

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

Racial Homophily refers to the tendency of individuals to associate with others who share similar racial or ethnic backgrounds.

Multiple choice

How does the criminal justice system contribute to racial disparities in unemployment?

  1. Mass Incarceration

  2. Racial Profiling

  3. Discrimination in Hiring

  4. Limited Job Opportunities for Ex-Offenders
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Individuals with criminal records often face barriers to employment due to discrimination and limited job opportunities.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the practice of steering job seekers to different jobs based on their race or ethnicity?

  1. Racial Profiling

  2. Racial Segregation

  3. Racial Homophily

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

Racial Steering refers to the practice of directing job seekers to different jobs based on their race or ethnicity, often leading to segregation in the labor market.

Multiple choice

Which 19th-century ideology emphasized the superiority of one race over others, leading to widespread discrimination and violence?

  1. Liberalism

  2. Socialism

  3. Nationalism

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

Scientific racism, a pseudoscientific ideology popular in the 19th century, claimed that certain races were biologically superior to others, justifying discrimination and violence against marginalized groups.

Multiple choice

Which concept refers to the idea that racial groups have distinct and immutable characteristics that determine their abilities and behaviors?

  1. Cultural Relativism

  2. Social Darwinism

  3. Racial Essentialism

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

Racial essentialism is the belief that racial groups possess inherent and fixed traits that determine their social and cultural characteristics.