a) Using Document A and your own knowledge, explain why discrimination persists.
Prejudice refers to inflexible and irrational attitudes and opinions held by members of one group about another, which may be positive or negative. Negative prejudice stems from subconscious attitudes that cause a person to ward off feelings of inadequacy by 0projecting them onto a target group. Prejudice may exist to justify social inequalities, when people on both sides of the power and wealth spectrum start believing that people get what they deserve. It may also exist due to a in-group bias, where people favour their own group at the expense of another, as in-group identity gives members benefits of communal solidarity and a safety in numbers. As Document A mentions, “prejudice is directly linked to discrimination”. Prejudice is an attitude while discrimination is a behaviour. When people act on negative prejudiced thoughts towards others, it leads to discrimination. A simple cause of discrimination is fear- fear of being hurt, losing power, and the unknown. Thus, people discriminate to protect opportunities for themselves by “limit[ing] the essential opportunities and choices” of those whom they believe do not deserve the same treatment. In the past, people were open about biases, and would carry out discriminatory practices openly. Factors leading to such discrimination include socialisation, where people develop prejudiced views from their parents, friends and the media. To take this further, people may conform to society’s discriminatory behaviour so as to not lose social support. As society progresses, these biases, especially in race, age, or sex, have become more subtle but still exist. Because these have existed for a long time, it now becomes a societal norm to hold them. As seen in Document A, discrimination will persist by “conformity to discriminatory norms”. Eventually, this leads to group closure, where groups keep clear boundaries between themselves and others by putting up “social barriers to intergroup contact” to reduce interaction with the discriminated group. Once this happens, it will be extremely hard to eradicate discrimination as a “perverse normality” is established. To eliminate discrimination, the desire to become better acquainted to other groups, to cooperate, having an equal economic standing and social status and equal support from society need to coincide. But since this is almost impossible, discrimination still persists till this day.
b) Explain how the ideas in (a) are seen in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
The troubles was a period of violent conflict from 1968 to 1998 about the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. The Protestant majority wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom(UK) while the Catholic minority wanted to become part of the Republic of Ireland. From this period, it can be seen how negative prejudice stems from subconscious attitudes that cause a person to ward off feelings of inadequacy by projecting them onto a target group. Protestants regarded themselves as British descendants from settlers who emigrated from England and Scotland. If Northern Ireland would continue to be part of the UK, their interests would be taken care of. The protestants were the minority in ireland, but are now the majority in Northern Ireland. Even so, they still felt politically insecure, fearing that British policy would eventually favour a united Ireland. As such, they grappled their new-found power to cripple the catholics because they remained deeply suspicious of what catholics could do to them. This can be seen by how the orange order, an organisation which defends Protestant civil and religious liberties, would hold parade through Catholic areas to celebrate Protestant victory of King William of Orange in Battle of the Boyne. For many Catholics, these marches are triumphalist and sectarian, a means of publicly 'rubbing in' a historical defeat, undoubtedly leading to discomfort and tension amongst the Catholics. By using the Catholics as a “scapegoat” to pin all their anxiety, fear, and suspicion, they are effectively sowing the seed for discriminatory acts.
Next, the troubles show how a cause of discrimination is fear, and that people discriminate to protect opportunities for themselves. In terms of employment, Catholics were discriminated against despite their qualifications. There were fewer Catholic civil servants in middle-ranking posts and none at top posts. Because most employers were Protestant and recruitment was usually through word of mouth or recommendation, there is a considerably lower chance of Catholics getting jobs. As can be seen, Protestants hold on to their power tightly. By limiting work opportunities and choice for the Catholics, Protestants can ensure that they will not lose their status and opportunities to the Catholics.
Additionally, we can see that discrimination can happen through socialisation, where people develop prejudiced views from their parents, friends and the media. In Northern Ireland, discrimination spreads through socialisation. This can be seen through the segregation of primary and secondary school education. 90% of Protestant students attended public schools which taught British History and play British sports like rugby. Meanwhile, 90% of Catholic students attended private school which taught Irish history, language, culture, and play Irish sports like hurling, leading to Britain being seen as a foreign country. This segregated environment undoubtedly cultivated prejudiced views from parents, friends and teachers to young children who are constantly exposed to it. Growing up in a prejudiced society causes discrimination to take root as both groups lack mutual understanding and knowledge. As such, socialisation, especially from a young age, causes discrimination to persist if nothing is done to change it.
Finally, this leads to group closure, where groups keep clear boundaries between themselves and others by putting up “social barriers to intergroup contact”. In Ireland, group closure can be seen through literal social barriers– peace lines. During the troubles, these walls were erected to separate predominantly protestant and catholic communities and prevent further violence. Inevitably, this decreases any communication between the two groups. Few people worked and shopped in a place if they had to cross a peace line to do so, as this wastes their time in transit, requiring two sets of transport services. When groups do not interact enough, they might form inaccurate stereotypes and prejudices, which in turn leads to discrimination. In addition, intermarriage was seen as a taboo and disgrace. In 1989, only 6% of marriages were Catholic-Protestant marriages. On the Protestant side, the Orange Order, an organization dedicated to preserving Protestant heritage, forbids its members from entering a Catholic church, let alone marrying one. Meanwhile, The Catholic Church's "Ne Temere" decree refused to recognize any marriage not celebrated in a Catholic church and required both parties to promise in writing that children would be brought up catholic. This demonstrates the intensity of sectarian hostility and actions in Northern Ireland during that time.
In conclusion, various concepts about discrimination and why it persists can be seen in Northern Ireland during the troubles.