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 for the belief that one's own race or ethnicity is superior to others?

  1. Racism

  2. Ethnocentrism

  3. Xenophobia

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

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

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a hate crime?

  1. Assaulting someone because of their race or ethnicity

  2. Using racial slurs

  3. Refusing to serve someone in a restaurant because of their race or ethnicity

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

A hate crime is a crime that is motivated by prejudice or hatred towards a particular group of people. Assaulting someone, using racial slurs, and refusing to serve someone in a restaurant because of their race or ethnicity are all examples of hate crimes.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a racial slur?

  1. The N-word

  2. The C-word

  3. The J-word

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

The N-word, the C-word, and the J-word are all racial slurs. They are offensive and derogatory terms that are used to denigrate people of particular racial or ethnic groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the belief that all races and ethnicities are equal?

  1. Racism

  2. Ethnocentrism

  3. Xenophobia

  4. Anti-racism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Anti-racism is the belief that all races and ethnicities are equal. It is the opposite of racism.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a policy that promotes racial segregation?

  1. Affirmative action

  2. Racial profiling

  3. Segregation

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

Segregation is a policy that separates people of different races or ethnicities from each other. It can be enforced through laws, social customs, or economic practices.

Multiple choice

What is the dominant discourse on race in Indian media?

  1. Race is a social construct.

  2. Race is a biological reality.

  3. Race is a cultural phenomenon.

  4. Race is a combination of social, biological, and cultural factors.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The dominant discourse on race in Indian media recognizes that race is a complex phenomenon that is shaped by a combination of social, biological, and cultural factors.

Multiple choice

How does the Indian media portray people of different races?

  1. People of different races are portrayed as equal.

  2. People of different races are portrayed as unequal.

  3. People of different races are portrayed as stereotypes.

  4. People of different races are portrayed in a neutral manner.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian media often portrays people of different races as unequal, with people of lighter skin tones being portrayed as superior to people of darker skin tones.

Multiple choice

What are some of the consequences of the dominant discourse on race in Indian media?

  1. Racism and discrimination.

  2. Social inequality.

  3. Cultural conflict.

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

The dominant discourse on race in Indian media can lead to racism and discrimination, social inequality, and cultural conflict.

Multiple choice

What is discrimination?

  1. Treating someone differently based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.

  2. Refusing to hire someone because they are not qualified for the job.

  3. Paying someone less than the minimum wage.

  4. Requiring someone to work overtime without pay.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Discrimination is treating someone differently based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. This can include refusing to hire someone, paying them less than the minimum wage, or requiring them to work overtime without pay.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of in-group favoritism?

  1. Preferring to work with people from your own social group

  2. Attributing positive qualities to members of your own social group

  3. Discriminating against members of other social groups

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

In-group favoritism is a tendency to favor members of one's own social group over members of other social groups. This can manifest in a variety of ways, including preferring to work with people from one's own social group, attributing positive qualities to members of one's own social group, and discriminating against members of other social groups.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of out-group derogation?

  1. Viewing members of other social groups as inferior

  2. Stereotyping members of other social groups

  3. Discriminating against members of other social groups

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

Out-group derogation is a tendency to view members of other social groups as inferior to members of one's own social group. This can manifest in a variety of ways, including viewing members of other social groups as inferior, stereotyping members of other social groups, and discriminating against members of other social groups.

Multiple choice

How did the concept of racial inferiority contribute to the justification of slavery?

  1. It provided a moral and ethical framework for the enslavement of certain groups.

  2. It allowed slaveholders to rationalize their actions and maintain their power.

  3. It created a social hierarchy that placed enslaved people at the bottom.

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

The concept of racial inferiority served as a powerful tool to justify slavery. It provided a moral and ethical framework that allowed slaveholders to rationalize their actions, maintain their power, and create a social hierarchy that placed enslaved people at the bottom.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a social norm that supported slavery?

  1. The belief that certain races were inferior and deserved to be enslaved.

  2. The idea that slavery was a necessary evil for economic prosperity.

  3. The practice of treating enslaved people as property.

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

Social norms played a crucial role in supporting slavery. These norms included the belief that certain races were inferior and deserved to be enslaved, the idea that slavery was a necessary evil for economic prosperity, and the practice of treating enslaved people as property.

Multiple choice

Which minority group was forced into internment camps by the United States government during World War II?

  1. African Americans

  2. Japanese Americans

  3. Mexican Americans

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

Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps by the United States government during World War II, with over 120,000 Japanese Americans being interned.

Multiple choice

Which minority group was the target of discrimination and violence in the United States during World War II?

  1. African Americans

  2. Japanese Americans

  3. Mexican Americans

  4. Native Americans
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

All of the above minority groups were the target of discrimination and violence in the United States during World War II.